LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Members' Salaries

John Burnett: To ask the Leader of the House how much was paid in salaries and allowances to hon. Members (a) including and (b) excluding payments to Ministers in each year since 1996–97.

Phil Woolas: The cost of salaries and allowances, excluding ministerial payments are as follows:
	
		£000
		
			  MP salaries and related costs(1)  Allowances(2) 
		
		
			 Cash basis   
			 1996–97 28,883 45,894 
			 1997–98 39,060 49,368 
			 1998–99 32,436 47,237 
			 1999–2000 34,167 47,647 
			 2000–01 35,117 49,066 
			
			 Resource basis   
			 2001–02 40,856 66,745 
			 2002–03 39,801 75,412 
		
	
	(1) This includes: Members' salaries; salaries of the Chairman of Ways and Means and deputies; social security costs; and the London supplement.
	(2) Allowances include: office costs allowance; incidental expenses provision; Members' staffing budget; additional costs allowance; travel (including to EU institutions); winding-up allowance.
	Information is not yet available for 2003–04. Following the introduction of resource accounting, figures for 2001–02 and 2002–03 are not directly comparable with those for 2000–01 and earlier years.
	Ministerial salaries are paid directly by their respective Government Department. Records of ministerial pay are not held centrally and do not distinguish between Lords and Commons Ministers. The information requested could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.

TRANSPORT

A43

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will close the A43 between Brackley and Towcester on Friday 9 July.

David Jamieson: We are examining carefully the arguments that have been made both for and against closure of the A43 trunk road on the pre-race day of Friday 9 July to facilitate access in and out of the Silverstone circuit.
	The Inter Agency Working Group that is looking at all the issues involved is due to meet again on the 4 May and the Chairman of that group has been asked to give specific attention to the traffic management, travel and cost implications of a Friday closure.
	A decision will be announced once I have received the report of that meeting and am in a position to make a decision.

Mobile Phone Use

Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the level of compliance of motor vehicle drivers with the legislation forbidding the use of a mobile telephone when driving; and what further steps he will take to improve compliance.

David Jamieson: The Department has been undertaking regular surveys of the use of mobile phones while driving. The last survey carried out in October 2003 before the new offence was introduced showed that 1.9 per cent. of drivers were using a hand-held phone, and 0.5 per cent. a hands-free phone. The results from the most recent survey this month are not yet available.
	The Department will continue to publicise the dangers of using mobile phones when driving. Radio advertising is planned for May, July, August and November and cinema advertising in September and January 2005. The message will be reinforced through the Department's sports sponsorship programme. The police are responsible for enforcing the law.

Road Deaths/Injuries (Manchester)

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the percentage change in (a) deaths and (b) serious injuries on the roads of Manchester, Gorton has been since 1997.

Alistair Darling: The available information relates to local authority areas. For the Manchester metropolitan district (which includes the constituency of Manchester, Gorton) the number of deaths in road accidents fell by 53 per cent. from 32 in 1997 to 15 in 2002, the latest year for which information is available. The number of serious injuries rose by 3 per cent., from 244 in 1997 to 252 in 2002. Estimates on the basis of parliamentary constituencies will become available in the summer and I shall write to my right hon. Friend with figures for Manchester, Gorton and place a copy of my letter in the Libraries of the House.

Road Schemes (South-West)

Robert Walter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money has been committed to date by the Government Office for the south west for the Bristol/Bath to South Coast Roads Study.

David Jamieson: Up to 5 April 2004, the amount committed on the Bristol/Bath to South Coast Study was £247,682.77.

Transport Infrastructure (Manchester)

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the effect of investment in railway improvements over the next 10 years upon residents of Manchester, Gorton.

Alistair Darling: Residents of Manchester will benefit from the new TransPennine Express franchise, which commenced in February. The franchise secures investment of around £260 million which will include the introduction of a new fleet of 100 mph diesel trains leading to increased capacity, improved service quality and performance across the region. A new northern franchise, which will include local and regional services through Manchester, is out for tender. Work continues on the west coast main line upgrade, which will see a   reduction in journey times on services to/from Manchester and an increase in service frequency.

US Air Travel

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will hold urgent talks with the US Administration on the exchange of private details, with particular reference to credit card numbers, for British passengers travelling to the USA by air.

Alistair Darling: The European Commission is leading the negotiations on the processing and transfer of airline Passenger Name Record data. We are in close discussions with our EU partners to consider how to proceed following referral of the proposed EU-US agreement to the European Court of Justice. I have also raised this with the US Secretary for Transportation at a meeting with him in March.

TREASURY

Administration Costs

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in lowering administration costs as a proportion of total spending since the 2004 Budget Statement.

Paul Boateng: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 19 April 2004 in answer to his question 165021 showing that administration costs are to fall to a planned 3.7 per cent. of total spending by 2008.

Central Lobby Consultants

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the work he has commissioned from Central Lobby Consultants since 1 June 2001.

Ruth Kelly: There is no payment to Central Lobby Consultants in HM Treasury records for this period.

Heavily Indebted Poor Countries

John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has made to the (a) World Bank, (b) IMF and (c) Paris Club creditors on increasing the debt cancellation available to the world's poorest countries, with particular reference to Iraq, through the heavily indebted poor countries process.

John Healey: The spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank were held on 24–25 April 2004. All Paris Club creditors were represented at the meetings.
	At the meetings, the UK stressed the importance of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative in helping to provide a robust exit from unsustainable debt for the world's poorest countries. As part of this, the UK called for full topping up to be provided when countries face exogenous shocks, in order to bring their debt ratios back to the agreed HIPC thresholds. The UK also supported consideration of extension of the Initiative so that countries yet to enter the Initiative are able to benefit from HIPC debt relief. A number of countries—many of which are in the process of trying to exit conflict—have yet to reach Decision Point and benefit from HIPC relief. This could deliver an extra $30 billion in debt relief. Iraq is not eligible for the HIPC Initiative, and so will have relief for its external debt considered under the auspices of the Paris Club's Evian Approach. However, the Government's view is that Iraq's debt position is unsustainable and that a substantial reduction will be needed to restore them to sustainability. That is likely to require writing off the vast majority of Iraq's debts.

Public Expenditure/Taxation

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much (a) public expenditure there was and (b) tax revenue was raised per head of population in each of the last seven years.

Paul Boateng: Data on tax revenue and public expenditure over the past seven years are available in the public finances databank on the HM Treasury website. (www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/economic   data   and   tools/pubfinance/data   pubfinance   databank.cfm).
	Population estimates are contained in the ONS publication, Population Trends 115, available on the ONS website (www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/themepopulation/PT115.pdf).

Treasury Building (Union Flag)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason the Union Flag was not flown above the Treasury on the Queen's Birthday on 21 April.

Ruth Kelly: The Union Flag was raised above the Treasury on the Queen's Birthday on 21 April.

UK Covered Bonds

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans his Department has to draft legislation which would enable UK covered bonds to be put on an approved list that is compliant with the European Directive on Undertakings for Collective Investments in Transferable Securities; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The Financial Services Authority is considering the best way to enable covered bonds issued in the UK to be compliant with the UCITS Directive.

DEFENCE

Droitwich Spa Army Medal Office

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of the Droitwich Spa Army Medal Office in the issuing of the Jubilee medal.

Ivor Caplin: The Army Medal Office (AMO) at Droitwich issues the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal to those serving and discharged Army personnel who meet the qualifying criteria. The AMO assess eligibility and determine entitlement to the Jubilee Medal and, to date, it has issued 95,332 medals. The majority of those entitled to receive the medal have now received it.

Droitwich Spa Army Medal Office

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the medals being issued by the Droitwich Spa Army Medal Office.

Ivor Caplin: The Army Medal Office at Droitwich is currently responsible for the issue or replacement of some 332 medals or awards. I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Medals

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) Iraq and (b) GSM Canal Zone medals have been issued; and how many are expected to be issued during 2004.

Ivor Caplin: The information is as follows.
	(a) Six.
	(b) 6,30 land 777 clasps.
	Note:
	All figures as at 23 April.
	It is difficult to estimate how many Iraq or Suez medals will be awarded in the coming months as it depends on applications. However, I can assure the hon. Member that medal offices will deal with applications as speedily and efficiently as possible.

MOD Sites (Portsmouth)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will make available information regarding contamination of land (a) owned and (b) formerly owned by his Department in the City of Portsmouth to Portsmouth City Council;
	(2)  what records his Department holds regarding contamination under the sites of former Ministry of Defence houses in Portsmouth.

Ivor Caplin: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Parliamentary Questions

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 31 March 2004, Official Report, column 1480W, on public perceptions, when he will write to the hon. Member for North Norfolk.

Ivor Caplin: I will write to the hon. Member within the next week.

Service Detainees (Far East)

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many ex-servicemen who were detained by the Japanese have received ex-gratia payments under the terms of the 1951 San Francisco Peace Agreement; how many have not received ex-gratia payments; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: The payment scheme under the 1951 Peace Treaty remains open, and claims in respect of eligible individuals who have not yet applied may still be made. Some 51,000 British Service personnel were detained by the Japanese during WW2. The payment records are held individually, and it would incur disproportionate cost to analyse them to provide the information requested.
	As a result of the Ex Gratia Payment Scheme which this Government established in November 2000, 8,430 payments have been made to British Servicemen detained by the Japanese during the Second World War and 12,973 payments have been made to the widows or widowers of former servicemen or former civilian internees who qualify for the scheme.

Wind Farms

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of interference with Ministry of Defence navigational instruments from wind farms placed in UK territorial waters.

Ivor Caplin: I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Wind Farms

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the risk to defence interests from the placement of wind farms around the UK coast.

Ivor Caplin: I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Wind Farms

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has been asked to fund navigational aids to prevent his Department's vessels colliding with windmills.

Ivor Caplin: There has been no formal requirement placed on the Ministry of Defence to fund navigational aids to prevent Royal Navy vessels and other MOD owned or operated vessels colliding with offshore wind farms. The cost of correctly marking these structures by navigational buoys and lights is the responsibility of the owner and, as such, must comply with standards defined by the Maritime Coastguard Agency in conjunction with the General Lighthouse Authorities (Trinity House, Northern Lighthouse Board and Irish Lights).

HOUSE OF COMMONS

North West Food

George Osborne: To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee whether the House plans to source more food from North West food producers following the North West Food and Drink promotion in the House on 22 April.

Dennis Turner: In conjunction with North West Fine Foods, the Refreshment Department launched the two week North West Regional Food and Drink Promotion on 20 April. This is the second in a series of planned regional promotions.
	I recognise the strong interest in the provenance of food and drink sold in the House. Regional promotions give small businesses a chance to raise awareness of their produce with wholesalers supplying the House, and other potential customers. I hope that some of the products that prove popular during the course of the promotion will, in future, be available for regular supply to the House.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Departmental Expenditure

John Burnett: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what the total expenditure incurred by the Commission was in each year since 1996–97.

Archy Kirkwood: The total expenditure for each year as set out in the House's published annual accounts was:
	
		£000
		
			  Net cash expenditure  Resource outturn 
		
		
			 1996–97 130,192 n/a 
			 1997–98 145,228 n/a 
			 1998–99 173,550 n/a 
			 1999–2000 165,905 n/a 
			 2000–01 162,538 n/a 
			 2001–02 132,508 165,426 
			 2002–03 138,328 180,006 
		
	
	Full information is not yet available for 2003–04. Prior to 2001–02 all reporting was on a cash basis only.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Recycling

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures he has put in place to ensure that his Department meets the quick win targets set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that all copying paper bought by the Department is 100 per cent. recycled with a minimum of 75 per cent. post-consumer waste content.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: All contracts issued in respect of DFID stipulate that the copying paper provided is to be 100 per cent. recycled with a minimum of 75 per cent. post-consumer waste content.

Recycling

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of copying paper used by the Department in 2002–03 was from recycled sources; and how much post-consumer waste this paper contained.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: 100 per cent. of the copying paper used in DFID came from recycled sources. It is not possible to say how much post-consumer waste this contained. Our current recycled paper is made up from at least 75 per cent. post-consumer waste.

Recycling

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures he has put in place to ensure that his Department meets the quick win targets set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that all paper for printed publications bought by the Department is 60 per cent. recycled, of which a minimum is 75 per cent. post-consumer waste.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) routinely requires that the designers and printers under contract to produce DFID publications source paper that has a minimum of 75 per cent. recycled content.

Recycling

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of paper for printed publications used by the Department in 2002–03 was from recycled sources; and how much post-consumer waste this paper contained.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development does not hold this information centrally, and due to disproportionate cost we cannot supply this information.
	However, DFID routinely requires that the designers and printers under contract to produce DFID publications source paper that has a minimum of 75 per cent. recycled content.

Recycling

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when his Department expects to implement in full the quick win targets set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that (a) all copying paper bought by the Department is 100 per cent. recycled with a minimum of 75 per cent. post-consumer waste content and (b) all paper for printed publications bought by the Department is 60 per cent. recycled, of which a minimum is 75 per cent. post-consumer waste.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID has already met the quick win targets set by DEFRA in that all of our copying paper is 100 per cent. recycled with at least 75 per cent. post-consumer waste content.
	DFID routinely requires that the designers and printers under contract to produce DFID publications source paper that has a minimum of 75 per cent. recycled content. We are in the process of amending design and print contracts, and are investigating joining the Department for Transport framework agreement for purchasing recycled paper, ensuring that we meet the quick win target for paper in printed publications.

Recycling

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the Department's main suppliers of (a) copier paper, (b) stationery, (c) envelopes and (d) paper for reports, in each case stating (i) the name of each paper used and (ii) the post-consumer recycled content of each paper.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The information in the following table shows the details of the main suppliers to my Department for paper (separate suppliers for the two headquarter locations), stationery and envelopes.
	
		
			 Type Supplier Comment 
		
		
			 Copier Paper (DFID London) David John Papers Ltd. Unit 1A Middlegreen Trading Estate Middlegreen Road Langley Slough Berks SL3 7BL Diplomat Recycled Paper. A4 80gsm 100 per cent. recycled of 100 per cent. post-consumer waste. 
			 Copier Paper (DFID, Scotland) Glenmore Dunfermline Business Park Rosyth Fife KY 2RN Evolve Business Paper. 100 per cent. recycled. Minimum of 75 per cent. post-consumer waste. 
			 Stationery   Banner Business Supplies PO Box 560St. Crispins Duke Street Norwich NR3 1SQ No paper products supplied, only stationery. 
			  Guilbert Guilbert House 68–72 St John's Road Corstorphine Edinburgh EH12 SAT No paper products supplied, only stationery 
			 Envelopes Banner Business Supplies Ltd. PO Box 560 St Crispins Duke Street Norwich NR3 1SQ Banner Envelopes. 60–85 per cent. post consumer waste. 
			 Paper for Reports (AH) Glenmore Dunfermline Business Park Rosyth FIFE KY11 2RN Evolve Business Paper. 100 per cent. recycled. Minimum of 75 per cent. post-consumer waste. 
			 Paper for Reports (PS) David John Papers Ltd. Unit 1A Middlegreen Trading Estate Middlegreen Road Langley Slough Berks SL3 7BL Diplomat Recycled Paper. A4 80gsm. 100 per cent. recycled of 100 per cent. post-consumer waste 
			 Paper for reports  The Department for International Development does not procure paper for its reports directly from paper merchants. However we routinely require the designers and printers of DFID publications to source paper that has a minimum of 75 per cent. recycled content.

St. Helena

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether a new constitution for St. Helena has been agreed.

Bill Rammell: I have been asked to reply.
	A new constitution for St. Helena has not yet been agreed. Discussions are ongoing between Foreign and   Commonwealth Office officials and St. Helena Councillors with a view to having a new constitution in place in time for the next dissolution of the Legislative Council in July 2005.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Libraries (Digitisation)

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money has been spent on the digitisation of content in libraries in Manchester, Gorton since 1997.

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money has been spent on the digitisation of content in libraries in Burnley since 1997.

Estelle Morris: This information is not held centrally.
	The New Opportunities Fund £50 million Digitisation of Learning Materials Programme has delivered 150 projects across the UK to enable resources which support learning of all kinds held in libraries as well as museums, archives and other public-sector institutions, to be made available online through the People's Network and the National Grid for Learning. This initiative has created a body of material containing over 2 million images, tens of thousands of sound and video clips and documents and over 1,000 learning packages. All projects can be accessed via the EnrichUK portal at http://www.enrichuk.net.
	Information on grants awarded to individual local authorities and their expenditure can be obtained from the relevant authority.

New Opportunities Fund (Wigan)

Neil Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money from the New Opportunities Fund was allocated to Wigan in each year since 1997.

Estelle Morris: The New Opportunities Fund began making grants in 1999. The awards to Wigan are shown in the table.
	
		
			 Financial year Amount (£) 
		
		
			 1999–2000 1,363,608 
			 2000–01 602,721 
			 2001–02 2,204,979 
			 2002–03 1,510,710 
			 2003–04 1,345,981 
		
	
	The information is freely available from the Department's searchable Lottery award database at www.lottery.culture.gsi.gov.uk, which uses information supplied by the Lottery distributors.

Timber

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether her Department plans to contribute financially to the establishment of the second phase of the Central Point of Expertise on Timber.

Estelle Morris: DCMS has no plans at present to contribute financially to the establishment of this DEFRA initiative, but DCMS and its NDPBs are active in sustainable development and the matter will be kept under review.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Animal Welfare

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action her Department is taking to limit the maximum number of hours during which a live animal may be transported to eight hours; and what plans there are for EU regulations on this.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 31 March 2004
	The European Commission brought forward proposals in July 2003 for a regulation to replace the current EU rules on animal welfare during transport. In discussing those proposals the Government have sought reductions in overall journey times as part of a range of measures to improve the welfare of animals.

Animal Welfare

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with other EU ministers about transportation times for animals being exported for slaughter or fattening; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 23 April 2004
	The European Commission's proposals (published in July 2003) for a new regulation to replace the current directive were discussed at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in December 2003 and February 2004. I have also taken the opportunity to discuss this important issue with other EU ministers outside of Council meetings. The Commission's proposals were discussed again at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 26 April 2004.

Animal Welfare

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the new Animal Welfare Bill will be published.

Ben Bradshaw: I anticipate publication of the proposed Animal Welfare Bill within the next two to three months.

Animal Welfare

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for   Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans   she has to strengthen animal welfare codes of conduct.

Ben Bradshaw: DEFRA is currently reviewing and updating the Codes of Recommendation for the Welfare of Livestock, where necessary. Codes which have recently been updated include the pig code and the cattle code, issued on 11 March and 23 April 2003 respectively.
	Under the proposed Animal Welfare Bill there are also plans to introduce codes for non-farmed animals. The codes, which will be subject to parliamentary scrutiny, will be used to support a statutory duty on the owners and keepers of animals to promote good welfare standards. Production of the codes will involve the industry, welfare organisations, veterinarians and officials working in partnership.

Badgers

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish the evidence to support the hypothesis that there has   been an explosion of the badger population in the UK.

Ben Bradshaw: English Nature advises that there are likely to be in the region of 300,000 to 400,000 badgers in Great Britain. This figure is derived from the most recent National Badger Survey which took place in the mid-1990s 1 . The survey also reported that there had been a 77 per cent. increase in badger numbers between the mid-1980s and mid-1990s.
	1  "Changes in the British badger population, 1988 to 1997" by G. Wilson, S. Harris and G. McLaren (1997), published by the People's Trust for Endangered Species (ISBN1 855800187)

Badgers

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will publish the interim results of the proactive badger strategy.

Ben Bradshaw: The Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB (ISG) undertakes interim analyses of data collected from the proactive treatment areas of the RBCT at six-monthly intervals. The ISG advise that analyses of such data collected so far has not yielded a statistically significant result. Any significant interim findings will be reported to Ministers without delay.
	On 6 April, DEFRA announced the publication of a report from an independent scientific panel chaired by Professor Charles Godfray FRS reviewing the progress of the RBCT and associated DEFRA research, as part of a wider review of DEFRA's science. The report recommended that DEFRA policymakers should have access to the the interim results from the RBCT. The recommendation did not encompass full publication. Even so, it was challenged by the ISG and the matter is still under consideration.
	We have been advised by the ISG that a full set of trial data from the Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT) should have been gathered by the end of 2006. A full report will follow, with publication as soon as possible thereafter.

Baronsdown Sanctuary

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Baronsdown Sanctuary area is a recognised reservoir of TB infection.

Ben Bradshaw: We are aware that TB is present in wild deer in parts of Exmoor. This was a factor (together with the disease history of cattle and other wildlife) in the decision to test cattle herds for TB annually over most of Exmoor.

Bass

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the volume of sea bass landings in the United Kingdom was in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) market and (b) port.

Ben Bradshaw: The following table shows details of sea bass landings into the UK by UK and foreign vessels for the years 1999–2003, broken down by port of landing. Fisheries Departments in the UK do not record details of landings by market.
	
		Landings of Sea Bass into the UK 1999–2003 -- Quantity (tonnes live weight)
		
			 Country of landing/ Port of landing 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 England  
			 North Shields 0.04 0.00 0.04 0.02 0.04 
			 Holy Island — — — — 0.01 
			 Seahouses — — 0.00 0.00 — 
			 Amble 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.02 0.01 
			 Newbiggin — — — — 0.01 
			 Blyth 0.00 — 0.00 0.01 0.03 
			 Sunderland — 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.01 
			 Hartlepool 0.01 0.01 0.06 0.04 0.06 
			 Whitby 0.16 0.07 0.43 0.31 0.52 
			 Scarborough 0.12 0.04 0.60 1.49 2.80 
			 Filey — 0.05 0.05 0.04 0.03 
			 Flam borough — 0.08 — — — 
			 Bridlington 0.55 0.09 0.09 0.12 0.18 
			 Grimsby 0.12 0.26 0.31 0.09 0.59 
			 Boston 0.02 0.00 — — — 
			 Lowestoft 0.85 1.72 2.94 4.50 8.20 
			 Brancaster Staithe — 0.02 — 0.11 — 
			 Sheringham — — — 0.05 0.01 
			 Cromer — — — 0.12 0.05 
			 Great Yarmouth 0.05 1.32 0.51 0.37 0.17 
			 Southwold 0.86 1.28 0.52 0.71 1.02 
			 Dunwich — 0.00 0.03 — 0.01 
			 Sizewell Beach — — — — 0.94 
			 Aldeburgh 0.35 0.03 0.11 0.43 0.88 
			 Orford 1.77 1.44 1.12 0.61 1.26 
			 Ipswich 1.11 6.13 2.31 1.73 — 
			 Felixstowe 0.03 0.01 0.05 8.63 1.51 
			 Harwich 0.25 0.15 0.19 0.64 0.10 
			 Walton-on-Naze 1.54 0.57 0.95 1.56 2.38 
			 Clacton 0.02 — 0.09 0.15 0.00 
			 Wivenhoe 0.81 0.31 0.59 0.79 0.58 
			 Brightlingsea 0.31 0.03 — 0.01 0.01 
			 West Mersea 16.24 0.25 0.66 1.33 0.87 
			 Maldon 0.02 — — — — 
			 Bradwell — — — 0.25 0.22 
			 Burnham-On-Crouch 0.06 0.08 — 0.02 0.01 
			 Great Wakering 0.10 0.00 0.01 0.23 0.31 
			 Canvey Island 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.05 0.12 
			 Southend-On-Sea — — — 0.01 — 
			 Leigh-On-Sea 1.33 2.06 0.76 0.83 1.74 
			 Faversham 0.51 1.03 1.54 2.17 1.92 
			 Gravesend 0.00 — — — — 
			 Rochester 0.10 — — — — 
			 Queenborough 0.33 1.09 0.50 0.40 1.99 
			 Whitstable 8.47 7.01 6.23 12.10 18.59 
			 Hastings 3.00 3.77 2.05 3.34 6.39 
			 Poole 64.44 9.33 9.91 0.60 5.33 
			 Margate 4.57 3.69 1.80 2.60 1.91 
			 Broadstairs 0.29 0.56 0.01 0.13 0.07 
			 Ramsgate 27.12 17.29 13.41 26.21 30.60 
			 Dover 2.60 0.95 6.63 2.79 — 
			 Folkestone 6.99 6.66 9.71 7.87 6.93 
			 Hythe 0.93 1.84 0.96 0.46 2.11 
			 Dungeness 2.25 1.48 0.50 2.34 0.51 
			 Rye 4.01 2.32 2.97 3.70 3.40 
			 Eastbourne 16.24 17.75 12.06 17.98 20.41 
			 Newhaven 45.20 27.31 25.02 23.36 11.57 
			 Brighton 2.81 1.85 1.23 4.50 1.87 
			 Shoreham 33.85 18.69 29.23 30.37 42.73 
			 Worthing 5.87 1.35 4.93 2.05 2.75 
			 Littlehampton 2.69 5.28 2.89 3.14 5.94 
			 Bognor Regis 0.05 — 0.02 0.01 — 
			 Selsey 11.37 11.17 2.98 20.77 12.04 
			 Langstone Harbour 4.54 4.61 3.85 2.86 3.36 
			 Itchenor/East Wittering — — — — 0.07 
			 Emsworth 0.02 0.95 — — 0.00 
			 Hamble 0.01 1.73 0.42 0.12 0.80 
			 Hayling Island — — 0.00 0.02 — 
			 Portsmouth 31.03 36.61 36.45 44.07 44.17 
			 Southampton 16.25 0.16 0.97 0.00 0.56 
			 Christchurch 7.68 2.95 1.47 — 1.94 
			 Cowes — — 0.08 — — 
			 Isle of Wight — 6.66 5.21 1.49 5.44 
			 Lymington 2.93 5.13 6.04 0.85 2.18 
			 Keyhaven — 0.00 — — 0.00 
			 Swanage 1.00 0.02 0.01 — — 
			 Kimmeridge 0.05 0.02 0.00 — 0.05 
			 Lulworth Cove — 0.17 0.39 0.70 — 
			 Weymouth 44.26 14.28 3.08 1.08 6.76 
			 Portland 1.12 0.27 0.02 0.12 0.07 
			 Ferrybridge — 0.00 — — — 
			 West Bay 0.14 1.06 0.05 — — 
			 Lyme Regis 2.92 1.56 1.28 0.96 4.00 
			 Plymouth 161.78 59.73 108.54 122.77 140.69 
			 Newlyn 4.46 8.26 21.34 98.81 12.90 
			 Beer 0.69 0.83 1.04 0.70 0.42 
			 Exmouth 3.09 10.24 10.57 8.66 9.16 
			 Teignmouth — 0.19 0.01 0.08 0.35 
			 Torquay 0.61 0.33 0.20 0.34 0.51 
			 Brixham 65.23 33.26 20.49 27.27 27.51 
			 Dartmouth 0.50 0.51 0.39 0.33 0.37 
			 River Dart 0.15 — — — — 
			 Kingswear 0.29 — — — — 
			 Salcombe 0.05 0.07 0.06 0.14 0.04 
			 Hope Cove — — 0.00 — — 
			 Looe 3.08 8.67 9.30 32.34 15.02 
			 Polperro 2.08 1.48 2.11 4.43 12.35 
			 River Fowey 0.55 0.08 0.17 0.05 0.37 
			 Mevagissey 3.50 1.39 1.91 3.51 11.95 
			 River Fal—Falmouth 0.56 0.16 0.47 0.35 0.51 
			 Helford River 0.02 0.14 0.14 0.31 0.22 
			 Porthoustock — — — 0.02 — 
			 Coverack 0.03 0.10 0.01 0.01 — 
			 Cadgwith 0.04 0.00 0.01 0.01 — 
			 Penzance 0.02 0.10 0.00 0.08 0.02 
			 Penberth — — 1.95 0.07 — 
			 St. Ives — 0.00 0.00 0.08 — 
			 Hayle 0.01 0.24 0.02 0.51 0.02 
			 Newquay 0.29 — 0.21 0.38 0.03 
			 Padstow 1.29 0.62 2.04 3.22 1.67 
			 Port Isaac 0.05 0.30 0.07 0.89 0.30 
			 Bude — 0.01 — 0.04 — 
			 Clovelly 0.10 0.03 — — — 
			 Appledore 6.18 6.72 18.23 20.29 19.42 
			 Bideford 2.22 3.19 0.11 1.35 0.15 
			 Ilfracombe 0.79 2.19 0.10 11.31 17.56 
			 Fleetwood 0.27 0.24 0.58 0.12 0.37 
			 Hoylake 0.02 — — — — 
			 Mersey Estuary — — — 0.02 0.01 
			 Liverpool 0.01 0.04 0.05 0.01 0.34 
			 Morecambe 0.10 0.10 0.30 — 3.60 
			 Barrow 0.25 0.54 1.72 0.01 0.12 
			 Whitehaven 0.01 0.00 0.07 0.08 0.57 
			 Maryport — — 0.00 0.00 0.04 
			   
			 Wales  
			 Milford Haven 31.55 19.63 23.01 20.08 9.45 
			 Conwy 0.01 0.03 3.21 0.26 — 
			 Swansea 1.18 1.70 4.30 2.68 1.80 
			 Porthcawl — 0.17 0.19 0.16 2.21 
			 Tenby 0.21 0.04 6.12 10.03 2.91 
			 Saundersfoot 1.79 1.86 2.02 1.83 2.80 
			 Llanelli 2.14 9.04 6.25 6.73 3.76 
			 Three Rivers Area — — — — 0.11 
			 New Quay — — 0.06 — — 
			 Pwllheli — — — 0.45 — 
			 Aberdaran — — 0.35 — — 
			 Caernarvon — 0.04 4.11 0.04 0.00 
			 Holyhead 0.11 0.06 0.03 0.07 0.34 
			 Cemaes Bay — 0.00 0.00 0.00 — 
			 Bangor — 0.19 1.02 — — 
			 Rhyl-Connah's Quay — 3.27 2.75 3.13 0.16 
			   
			 Scotland  
			 Eyemouth 0.02 0.00 0.01 5.99 2.59 
			 Dunbar — — — 0.00 0.00 
			 Pittenweem — — 0.01 — — 
			 Aberdeen 0.01 — 0.05 0.01 0.00 
			 Peterhead 0.13 — — — 0.02 
			 Fraserburgh — — — — 0.00 
			 Mallaig — — — — 0.23 
			 Saltcoats — 0.03 — — — 
			 Girvan — — — — 0.00 
			 Portpatrick 0.06 0.02 — — 0.11 
			 Isle of Whithorn 0.07 — — — 0.00 
			   
			 Northern Ireland  
			 Kilkeel — — 1.34 1.13 8.52 
			 Portavogie — — — — 0.01 
			 Bangor (Co. Down) — — — 0.01 — 
			 Co. Antrim — — — — 0.03 
			 Total UK landings 677.97 408.45 463.41 635.62 582.79

Bass

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the value of sea bass landings within the United Kingdom was for each of the last five years, broken down by market.

Ben Bradshaw: Fisheries departments in the UK do not record details of sales by market. The following table shows details of the value of sea bass landings into the UK by UK and foreign vessels for the years 1999 to 2003, broken down by port of landing.
	
		Landings of sea bass into the UK, 1999 to 2003 -- Value (£000)
		
			 Port of landing 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 England 1  
			 North Shields (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— 
			 Holy Island (5)— (5)— (5)— (5)— (4)— 
			 Seahouses (5)— (5)— (4)— (4)— (5)— 
			 Amble (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— 
			 Newbiggin (5)— (5)— (5)— (5)— (4)— 
			 Blyth (4)— (5)— (4)— (4)— (4)— 
			 Sunderland (5)— (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— 
			 Hartlepool (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— 
			 Whitby 1 (4)— 2 1 2 
			 Scarborough 1 (4)— 3 6 11 
			 Filey (5)— 1 (4)— (4)— (4)— 
			 Flamborough (5)— (4)— (5)— (5)— (5)— 
			 Bridlington 3 (4)— (4)— 1 1 
			 Grimsby 1 1 2 (4)— 2 
			 Boston (4)— (4)— (5)— (5)— (5)— 
			 Lowestoft 5 11 15 22 40 
			 Brancaster Staithe (5)— (4)— (5)— 1 (5)— 
			 Sheringham (5)— (5)— (5)— (4)— (4)— 
			 Cromer (5)— (5)— (5)— 1 (4)— 
			 Great Yarmouth (4)— 9 4 2 1 
			 Southwold 5 9 3 4 7 
			 Dunwich (5)— (4)— (4)— (5)— (4)— 
			 Sizewell Beach (5)— (5)— (5)— (5)— 4 
			 Aldeburgh 2 (4)— 1 3 8 
			 Orford 10 9 7 3 5 
			 Ipswich 6 35 13 10 (5)— 
			 Felixstowe (4)— (4)— (4)— 1 7 
			 Harwich 1 1 1 4 1 
			 Walton-on-the-Naze 9 3 6 9 14 
			 Clacton (4)— (5)— 1 1 (4)— 
			 Wivenhoe 5 2 3 5 3 
			 Brightlingsea 2 (4)— (5)— (4)— (4)— 
			 West Mersea 94 1 4 8 5 
			 Maldon (4)— (5)— (5)— (5)— (5)— 
			 Bradwell (5)— (5)— (5)— 1 1 
			 Burnham-on-Crouch (4)— (4)— (5)— (4)— (4)— 
			 Great Wakering 1 (4)— (4)— 1 2 
			 Canvey Island (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— 1 
			 Southend-on-Sea (5)— (5)— (5)— (4)— (5)— 
			 Leigh-on-Sea 8 11 4 5 10 
			 Faversham 3 5 8 12 10 
			 Gravesend (4)— (5)— (5)— (5)— (5)— 
			 Rochester 1 (5)— (5)— (5)— (5)— 
			 Queenborough 2 6 3 2 10 
			 Whitstable 43 42 28 58 94 
			 Hastings 21 24 13 21 41 
			 Poole 325 48 54 2 23 
			 Margate 23 19 9 13 10 
			 Broadstairs 1 3 (4)— 1 (4)— 
			 Ramsgate 138 89 68 135 153 
			 Dover 13 5 34 14 (5)— 
			 Folkestone 46 40 48 50 37 
			 Hythe 6 11 6 3 11 
			 Dungeness 15 10 3 13 3 
			 Rye 27 15 18 23 22 
			 Eastbourne 96 110 69 109 132 
			 Newhaven 226 134 120 112 56 
			 Brighton 14 10 7 24 10 
			 Shoreham 169 101 156 156 191 
			 Worthing 39 9 14 10 14 
			 Littlehampton 18 35 15 14 30 
			 Bognor Regis (4)— (5)— (4)— (4)— (5)— 
			 Selsey 63 48 11 70 44 
			 Langstone Harbour 33 24 18 13 17 
			 Itchenor/East Wittering (5)— (5)— (5)— (5)— (4)— 
			 Emsworth (4)— 6 (5)— (5)— (4)— 
			 Ramble (4)— 7 2 1 4 
			 Hayling Island (5)— (5)— (4)— (4)— (5)— 
			 Portsmouth 206 178 176 182 213 
			 Southampton 85 1 4 (4)— 3 
			 Christchurch 39 15 8 (5)— 8 
			 Cowes (5)— (5)— (4)— (5)— (5)— 
			 Isle of Wight (5)— 32 23 7 25 
			 Lymington 15 25 35 4 9 
			 Keyhaven (5)— (4)— (5)— (5)— (4)— 
			 Swanage 5 (4)— (4)— (5)— (5)— 
			 Kimmeridge (4)— (4)— (4)— (5)— (4)— 
			 Lulworth Cove (5)— 1 2 2 (5)— 
			 Weymouth 286 73 16 6 32 
			 Portland 6 1 (4)— (4)— (4)— 
			 Ferrybridge (5)— (4)— (5)— (5)— (5)— 
			 West Bay 1 9 (4)— (5)— (5)— 
			 Lyme Regis 22 10 7 6 18 
			 Plymouth 1,208 357 662 787 808 
			 Newlyn 31 59 123 562 73 
			 Beer 5 7 9 5 3 
			 Exmouth 23 76 72 63 67 
			 Teignmouth (5)— 2 (4)— 1 3 
			 Torquay 5 3 2 3 4 
			 Brixham 386 277 174 223 206 
			 Dartmouth 4 4 3 3 3 
			 River Dart 1 (5)— (5)— (5)— (5)— 
			 Kingswear 2 (5)— (5)— (5)— (5)— 
			 Salcombe (4)— (4)— (4)— 1 (4)— 
			 Hope Cove (5)— (5)— (4)— (5)— (5)— 
			 Looe 23 45 58 181 87 
			 Polperro 15 8 12 23 69 
			 River Fowey 4 1 1 (4)— 2 
			 Mevagissey 25 9 13 23 73 
			 River Fal—Falmouth 4 1 3 3 2 
			 Helford River (4)— 1 1 2 1 
			 Porthoustock (5)— (5)— (5)— (4)— (5)— 
			 Coverack (4)— 1 (4)— (4)— (5)— 
			 Cadgwith (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— (5)— 
			 Penzance (4)— 1 (4)— 1 (4)— 
			 Penberth (5)— (5)— 12 1 (5)— 
			 St. Ives (5)— (4)— (4)— 1 (5)— 
			 Hayle (4)— 2 (4)— 4 (4)— 
			 Newquay 2 (5)— 1 2 (4)— 
			 Padstow 8 5 13 18 9 
			 Port Isaac (4)— 2 (4)— 7 1 
			 Bude (5)— (4)— (5)— (4)— (5)— 
			 Clovelly 1 (4)— (5)— (5)— (5)— 
			 Appledore 41 45 123 138 115 
			 Bideford 16 21 1 9 1 
			 Ilfracombe 6 15 1 79 104 
			 Fleetwood 2 1 3 1 2 
			 Hoylake (4)— (5)— (5)— (5)— (5)— 
			 Mersey Estuary (5)— (5)— (5)— (4)— (4)— 
			 Liverpool (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— 1 
			 Morecambe (4)— (4)— 1 (5)— 17 
			 Barrow 1 2 8 (4)— (4)— 
			 Whitehaven (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— 2 
			 Maryport (5)— (5)— (4)— (4)— (4)— 
			   
			 Wales(3)  
			 Milford Haven 187 96 116 105 48 
			 Conwy (4)— (4)— 10 1 (5)— 
			 Swansea 8 11 26 15 9 
			 Porthcawl (5)— (4)— 1 1 10 
			 Tenby 1 (4)— 30 55 16 
			 Saundersfoot 9 8 10 9 16 
			 Llanelli 13 41 31 34 18 
			 Three Rivers Area (5)— (5)— (5)— (5)— 1 
			 New Quay (5)— (5)— (4)— (5)— (5)— 
			 Pwllheli (5)— (5)— (5)— 2 (5)— 
			 Aberdaran (5)— (5)— 2 (5)— (5)— 
			 Caernarvon (5)— (4)— 22 (4)— (4)— 
			 Holyhead (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— 1 
			 Cemaes Bay (5)— (4)— (4)— (4)— (5)— 
			 Bangor (5)— 1 5 (5)— (5)— 
			 Rhyl-Connah's Quay (5)— 9 7 15 1 
			   
			 Scotland(3)  
			 Eyemouth (4)— (4)— (4)— 25 13 
			 Dunbar (5)— (5)— (5)— (4)— (4)— 
			 Pittenweem (5)— (5)— (4)— (5)— (5)— 
			 Aberdeen (4)— (5)— (4)— (4)— (4)— 
			 Peterhead 1 (5)— (5)— (5)— (4)— 
			 Fraserburgh (5)— (5)— (5)— (5)— (4)— 
			 Mallaig (5)— (5)— (5)— (5)— (4)— 
			 Saltcoats (5)— (4)— (5)— (5)— (5)— 
			 Girvan (5)— (5)— (5)— (5)— (4)— 
			 Portpatrick (4)— (4)— (5)— (5)— (4)— 
			 Isle of Whithorn (4)— (5)— (5)— (5)— (4)— 
			 Northern Ireland(3)  
			 Kilkeel (5)— (5)— 7 6 32 
			 Portavogie (5)— (5)— (5)— (5)— (4)— 
			 Bangor (County Down) (5)— (5)— (5)— (4)— (5)— 
			 County Antrim (5)— (5)— (5)— (5)— (4)— 
			   
			 Total 4,173 2,352 2,608 3,558 3,165 
		
	
	(3) Country of landing.
	(4) Less than half the last digit shown.
	(5) Nil.

Bass

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment is made of the sea bass catch in relation to (a) size, (b) maturity and (c) reproductive state; and whether this information influences decisions by the Department on closure of fisheries.

Ben Bradshaw: DEFRA funds a programme that collects data on the size (length and weight) and age (from scales) of representative samples of sea bass caught annually in England and Wales. Research carried out by the Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science has established the age and size at which male and female bass become mature in UK waters, and reproductive state by area and season. This information is updated as necessary. It is used to provide scientific advice on the conservation status of bass stocks, and informs any decisions taken by this Department on the management of fisheries taking sea bass.

Bio-refinery Technologies

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the use of (a) household and municipal, (b) industrial and (c) agricultural waste streams as potential sources for bio-fuels through bio-refinery technologies; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: A study by E4tech for the Department of Trade and Industry made the following estimates for the proportion of the UK's electricity demand that could be met by 2020 from various types of waste biomass: 2.2 per cent. from the combustion, gasification and anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste; 0.5 per cent. from the gasification and anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge; 1.9 per cent. from the combustion and gasification of straw; and less   than 0.2 per cent. each from food waste, wood processing waste, farm waste and forestry residues.
	The Waste Implementation Programme was established last year to provide support to local authorities in assessing and establishing alternative new technologies with particular reference to achieving the landfill diversion targets for biodegradable municipal waste. The New Technologies sub-programme aims to establish up to five demonstrator plants by 2005 end with at least five additional plants initiated by 2006.
	Tallow derived from rendering animal by-products can be burnt to produce energy. 280,000 tonnes of tallow from animals slaughtered under the over-30-months (slaughter) scheme have already been sold to renderers to power their boilers. The Rural Payments Agency recently signed a contract to sell 110,000 tonnes of stockpiled tallow to a commercial company for energy production.
	Around 120 million litres of waste vegetable oil are produced in the UK each year, which could produce about 115 million litres of biodiesel. 1 million litres of biodiesel from waste vegetable oil are currently sold each month in the UK and it is likely that this will increase once the ban on used cooking oil in animal feed comes into effect in November 2004. Recent advances in biotechnology are opening up opportunities to produce bioethanol from ligno-cellulosic feedstocks such as wood, straw and organic waste, using gasification and hydrolysis, although large-scale commercialisation is unlikely for some years.

Biodiversity

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to ensure sustainable funding for national survey and monitoring schemes in order to (a) mobilise and (b) support the voluntary effort to gather the data on the state of Britain's biodiversity.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 1 April 2004
	The work of volunteers is crucial to gathering data on the current state of our biodiversity. Volunteers have collected around 70 per cent. of all the data about species. This includes existing survey and monitoring schemes, including the Biological Records Centre:
	breeding and wintering birds;
	bats, otters and other mammals;
	butterflies and moths; and
	threatened plants.
	An organisation called the National Biodiversity Network Trust is currently co-ordinating actions by a range of interested parties to bring together the efforts of volunteers. The work of the NBN Trust is supported by the Government agencies responsible for biodiversity and the Government support this work through the grant-in-aid to these agencies.
	DEFRA has provided a direct contribution of £0.25 million per year to support technical elements of this work that were not being funded. Part of this work has been an exploration of how improved access to biodiversity data can improve the cost-effectiveness of delivering our agri-environmental schemes. This has demonstrated the huge importance of securing access to current information as a way of saving costs overall, and improving the outcomes. DEFRA is currently considering how to secure these benefits through increased support for the NBN process.
	The work of volunteers is often focused on their local area and the NBN encourages local storage and quality assurance of these data. However, there are many national societies with networks of volunteers throughout the United Kingdom.
	In some circumstances it is more effective to bring this information together in national data centres. The NBN provides a mechanism for both local and national data centres to provide access to their data. In May the latest version of this web-based mechanism, called the NBN Gateway, will be launched. Also, English Nature, supported by Treasury Capital Modernisation Funds, has created a public website that links with the NBN gateway to provide information to the public.
	In addition to the work on the NBN, the Government will be considering this year how best to improve the co-ordination of the current monitoring and surveillance activities. This will ensure that the UK's state of nature is sufficiently monitored and that we make the best use of the voluntary sector and ensure that the sector receives the full support it needs to be fully effective.
	While DEFRA is supporting the NBN process, and considering where further assistance may be needed, a major block to progress is the patchy support for local centres by local authorities. Information is critical to better development planning decisions through both local and regional processes.
	DEFRA is seeking co-operation from other Departments over how to ensure that the information sources, underpinned by volunteer effort, are funded in a sustainable way.

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost was of the Thornbury trial.

Ben Bradshaw: The answer can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the optimum area in which to conduct a badger culling operation is based on the basis of experience from the Krebs trials.

Ben Bradshaw: It is not possible to use the results from the Randomised Badger Culling Trial to describe an optimum area in which to conduct a badger culling operation, as this will depend on the local circumstances and the specific effect the operation is intended to achieve.

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average duration of a TB2 restriction notice was in (a) 1997 and (b) 2003.

Ben Bradshaw: Data for TB2 duration for 1997 are available only at disproportionate cost.
	In 2003, the average duration of TB2 restriction notices was 90 1 days. This includes TB2 restriction notices served on herds where the routine herd test was overdue, as well as notices served on herds with a TB breakdown. Herds with overdue tests were not placed under restrictions in 1997.
	1  Provisional data downloaded from the State Veterinary Service database on 17 March 2004. This is subject to change, as more data become available.

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the   answer of 11 December 2003, Official Report, column 539W on badgers, what assessment she has made of the change in size of the total badger population in the Krebs areas since the commencement of the culling of badgers.

Ben Bradshaw: DEFRA assessments are based, principally, on surveys of badger activity carried out before and sometime after culling. Analyses of data from the first three triplets to go live indicate that badger activity levels in trial areas have changed consistent with the treatments applied; levels appearing approximately unchanged in survey only areas, somewhat reduced in reactive cull areas and substantially reduced in proactive cull areas. Such data on field signs, however, give only an approximate index of badger numbers, and Defra is funding two projects looking at ways to enable the estimation of badger populations with greater accuracy.

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the   answer of 8 December 2003, Official Report, column 212W, on bovine tuberculosis, what the lowest estimate is of culling efficiency using traps, experienced in the Krebs trial areas.

Ben Bradshaw: Subjective estimates on the efficiency of culling, based on post-cull surveys, have indicated that in the poorest conditions, particularly relating to inclement weather and the season of the year, culling efficiency may be as low as 30 per cent.

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the   answers of 20 November 2003, Official Report, column 1204W, on bovine tuberculosis and 8 December 2003, Official Report, column 212W, what the basis is of her estimate for the efficiency of trapping as a means of badger culling; whether that estimate has been scientifically validated; and what the current estimate is of the efficiency of the culling conducted in the Krebs trial areas.

Ben Bradshaw: There is no sure way to estimate badger populations accurately. Post cull surveys provide a subjective indication of the level of badger activity and abundance based on field signs and are carried out by ecologists from the Central Science Laboratory. Evidence from post cull surveys suggests that trapping efficiency can vary between 30 per cent. and 80 per cent., dependent on conditions, season and taking into account a proportion of trap shy animals. Comparisons of initial and two-year surveys show changes in badger activity consistent with the treatments applied. DEFRA is funding research into novel and innovative methods of estimating badger numbers.

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State forEnvironment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received from the European Commission on the incidence of TB in cattle in the United Kingdom.

Ben Bradshaw: The European Commission has made no representations about the incidence of TB in cattle in Great Britain. The United Kingdom provide detailed information on bovine tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis) to the Commission as part of the annual report on trends and sources of Zoonoses and zoonotic agents in animals, feedingstuffs, food and man, under the requirements of EU Directive 92/117.
	The Northern Ireland tuberculosis eradication programme has qualified for a financial contribution from the EU. As part of a series of missions to member states with co-financed bovine tuberculosis eradication programmes, a team of EU Field and Veterinary Office (FVO) inspectors visited Northern Ireland during November 2003. Publication of the FVO report of this inspection is awaited.

Breckland Farmland SSSI

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the size of the stone curlew population within the Breckland Farmland Site of Special Scientific Interest (a) at present, (b) five years ago, (c) 10 years ago and (d) 15 years ago.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 19 April 2004
	From the counts of stone curlews within the Breckland Farmland SSSI undertaken by the work of the Breckland Stone Curlew Recovery Project I am able to provide the following information:
	(a) The number of pairs proved breeding in the 2003 breeding season was 110 (this does not include parts of the SSSI where access for survey and monitoring was denied);
	The Breckland Farmland SSSI was not notified until 2001, so the following figures are for the population nesting on arable and other land within the whole of the Breckland area. This excludes the heathland sites which are the main breeding areas outside the current Breckland Farmland SSSI. These records were used in the assessment of the Breckland Farmland SSSI boundary for breeding stone curlew. The number of pairs proved breeding on arable and other areas within Breckland in the years requested is as follows:
	
		
			  Pairs 
		
		
			 (b) 1998 86 
			 (c) 1993 49 
			 (d) 1988 55

Breckland Farmland SSSI

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Breckland Farmland Site of Special Scientific Interest takes to encourage appropriate habitat management practice.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 19 April 2004
	The conservation of stone curlew in Breckland is encouraged by the work of the Breckland Stone Curlew Recovery Project, jointly funded mainly by English Nature and the RSPB. Project staff locate and monitor breeding sites and advise farmers on appropriate management actions to ensure breeding success. English Nature's funding for the project is from its SSSI management budget. The success of the stone curlew recovery project is due largely to the combined efforts of the project officers and farmers, working together to achieve nest protection, improved habitat management and habitat creation (provision of nest-plots on set-aside land).
	English Nature also runs a Wildlife Enhancement Scheme for Breckland Farmland SSSI to assist land managers with their work. Through this scheme English Nature can offer a Management Agreement to provide payment for additional positive management to benefit nesting stone curlews. The scheme provides options for management designed to improve breeding success and to encourage birds out of crops and on to specially created nest plots.

Breckland Farmland SSSI

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) process and (b) timescale are for the implementation of the Breckland Special Protection Area.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 19 April 2004
	English Nature has undertaken scientific consultations on the case made for the site. Objections were received and one has resulted in a legal challenge. English Nature expects to submit its recommendations once that has been concluded. Once those recommendations are received Ministers will consider any outstanding issues before taking a decision whether the site merits classification as a Special Protection Area.

Breckland Farmland SSSI

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how the (a) boundaries of the Breckland Farmland Site of Special Scientific Interest and (b) proposed boundaries of the Breckland Special Protection Area have been decided.

Ben Bradshaw: The information is as follows.
	(a) The boundary of the Breckland Farmland Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) was drawn up by English Nature on the basis of the nest records collected under the Stone Curlew Recovery Project, financed jointly by the RSPB and English Nature, for the years 1995 to 1999 inclusive. Areas regularly containing two or more nest sites over this period were included, conservatively using a foraging range of up to 2 km from each nest site. Other features were also taken into account, in particular the need to have boundaries corresponding to physical features such as roads, drains, ditches, field edges or the boundaries of land holdings.
	(b) All or parts of 28 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) have been recommended as Breckland potential Special Protection Area (pSPA) because together they support breeding bird populations of three species of European importance.
	Breckland SPA qualifies under the EC Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds (79/409/EEC) as it is used regularly by 1 per cent. or more of the Great Britain population of three species of birds listed in Annex 1 of the Directive. They are stone curlew, nightjar and woodlark.
	The pSPA boundary was delineated on the basis of records covering stone curlew nests, male woodlarks in forest blocks and in non-forest locations and breeding nightjars. The data spans the period 1992–98, with account taken of 1999 data where available.

Brucellosis

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the (a) cause and (b) source of the recent brucellosis outbreak in South East Cornwall.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 19 April 2004
	A specialist epidemiological team has been set up to look into the source of the outbreak. The team, led by veterinary epidemiologist Professor John Wilesmith, includes specialists in surveillance and epidemiology from both the Veterinary Laboratories Agency and DEFRA.
	The group is liaising closely with the State Veterinary Service and looking at the brucellosis testing history of the infected herd, the relationship between cows, bulls and youngstock, cattle movements on and off over the   past two years, any known unrecorded cattle movements, the herd's breeding programme, any unusual mixing of livestock and imports into Devon and Cornwall over the past three years.
	Field investigations and epidemiological analyses ofavailable data are concentrated on two main hypotheses:
	(i) the introduction of infection via an imported animal from a known infected country, or an as yet unknown infected country; or
	(ii) the recrudescence of infection either from animals in the infected herd or from other GB herds.
	Epidemiological investigations are progressing well; however the cause and source of the infection remain unknown at this stage.

BSE

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the US Department of Agriculture decision to use antibody-based tests for the prion protein that causes BSE; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The testing approvals in the USA are currently consistent with those in the EU where all currently approved and potential new surveillance tests are antibody based. It is understandable that the USDA might want to use similar testing to the EU in order to assess BSE prevalence in their cattle population. No specific evaluation of the US approval process is considered necessary.

BSE

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the BSE tests she has been conducting at High Mowbray in Yorkshire.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 19 April 2004
	I assume that the hon. Member is referring to BSE research that was conducted between 1989 and 2001 at High Mowthorpe Centre in North Yorkshire as no BSE tests or research have been conducted at High Mowbray. Embryos were derived elsewhere from BSE-infected cattle and transported to High Mowthorpe, where they were transferred to recipient BSE-free dams from New Zealand. A total of 266 live born calves were produced from 347 recipient females and all 613 animals were monitored for seven years. None developed BSE and no sign of BSE was observed when brains were subjected to post-mortem examination. These findings led to the lifting of the import/export ban on cattle embryos in 2002.

Butterflies

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will add butterflies to the list of quality of life indicators.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 1 April 2004
	The UK Government in partnership with the Scottish Executive, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Northern Ireland Administration have begun developing new strategy to produce a step change in the delivery of sustainable development in the UK. The public consultation document and process for developing new strategy will be launched later this month. As part of the consultation we will consider the use and scope of indicators for monitoring our progress.
	We cannot at this stage pre-empt the outcome of the consultation and the associated review of indicators to comment which indicators may or may not be included in a new set.
	Annual information on butterfly populations at monitored sites is available and an indicator covering 1976 to 2002 could be compiled. However, the majority of the sites covered by the monitoring schemes are nature reserves and the index is therefore unlikely to be representative of the country as a whole. This weakness is being addressed in a research project, which the Department is currently putting out to tender.

Carbon Dioxide Reduction Target

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what further steps the Government intend to take to reach the target of a 20 per cent. reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, relative to 1990 levels, by 2010; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The Government remain committed to the domestic goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010. The Department of Trade and Industry intends to publish shortly its updated energy and emissions projections, which will inform the planned review of the UK Climate Change Programme later this year. The review provides an opportunity to introduce new policies and measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, or to strengthen existing ones, if the conclusion is that more needs to be done to achieve the domestic goal.

Cervine TB

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will specify the locations at which the deer in the vicinity of the Baronsdown deer sanctuary tested positive for TB; how many of the carcases were sent to the Veterinary Investigation Laboratories, and when; and how many laboratory tests are pending.

Ben Bradshaw: Since the beginning of January 1998, there have been nine bacteriologically confirmed cases of bovine tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis) in the Parish of Dulverton in West Somerset (eight red deer, one roe deer). Other deer submissions were bacteriologically negative.
	In 2003, six (from seven) deer submissions from Exmoor proved positive for M.bovis.
	In February 2004, eight red deer culled near Dulverton, Somerset as part of a routine annual random cull were submitted to the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) at Langford. After examination by a Veterinary Investigation Officer, tissues from four animals with suspect lesions have been submitted for Mycobacterium culture. The results are awaited.

Cervine TB

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she takes against (a) farms and (b) others who fail to notify her Department of TB in deer.

Ben Bradshaw: The Tuberculosis (Deer) Order 1989 provides for the compulsory notification of tuberculosis in deer and deer carcasses. Contravention or failure to comply with the provisions of the Order constitute anoffence against the Animal Health Act 1981. Prosecution would be carried out by the local authority.

Cockling

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has to compensate cockle fishermen affected by the closure of cockle beds.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has no plans to provide financial compensation to cockle fishermen affected by the closure of cockle beds.

Dolphins/Porpoises

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action her   Department is taking to press for the early implementation of the EU proposals to reduce accidental deaths of dolphins and porpoises from UK fishing activity.

Ben Bradshaw: The UK has been seeking Community action for some time to address the accidental deaths of dolphins and porpoises from fishing activity. I am pleased therefore that agreement was reached on a new Council regulation to address this problem at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council of Ministers Meeting on 22/23 March. The regulation will make the use of acoustic deterrent devices mandatory in certain fixed gear fisheries in the North Sea from 1 June 2005, in the Celtic Sea from 1 January 2006, and in the eastern Channel from 1 January 2007. The regulation also requires member states to implement schemes to monitor bycatch across a range of fisheries from 1 January 2005. This regulation is an important first step in the protection of dolphins and porpoises from the impact of fishing.

Environmental Support

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with (a) the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and (b) Regional Development Agencies on   successor organisations and programme to Vital Villages.

Alun Michael: The Vital Villages programme was a three year pilot programme which was intended to explore what would best enable village communities to determine their own future. Some commentators have wrongly referred to the scheme as being "cut" when a further £14 million is being invested this year in maintaining the scheme, despite the fact that it is closed to new applicants. With a variety of partners including the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister we are considering how best to promote the lessons of the programme in seeking to target support for rural communities that need help through mainstream Government programmes such as local authority community planning, Neighbourhood Renewal and other regeneration programmes. We will also consider whether an independent successor arrangement to the Vital Villages scheme is necessary.

Erosion

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what land area in total was affected by problems of soil erosion in each of the last 10 years, broken down by county; and what area of agricultural land in total has become unusable in each case.

Ben Bradshaw: All soils that are not sealed, e.g. built on, are potentially at risk of erosion. Whether erosion occurs depends on various factors, especially land management, soil type and weather conditions.
	Over the last 10 years very little agricultural land has become unusable due to soil erosion, although a number of watercourses have suffered damage from siltation and/or eutrophication due to soil-borne nutrients.

Erosion

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the volume of soil erosion, as measured in tonnes per hectare per annum was, broken down by country in (a) 1975, (b) 1985, (c) 1995 and (d) 2002.

Ben Bradshaw: Latest estimates taken between 1996 and 1998 suggest that total erosion from arable land in England and Wales is estimated at 2.9 million tonnes per annum. These losses are concentrated in small and limited areas within catchments where particular land   management practices, soil types and weather conditions present the highest risk to erosion. In such risky areas losses range between 0.01 to 12 tonnes per hectare per annum, with a median value of 0.1 tonnes per hectare per annum. We do not have comparable figures broken down by year and country.

EU Environmental Liability Directive

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the status of (a) the EU and (b) the UK   regarding the European Environmental Liability Directive.

Alun Michael: Following the Council common position in September and the European Parliament's second reading in December, the Council and the Parliament reached agreement on an amended draft. The Council and the Parliament have since adopted the Directive, as amended, at their respective third readings. The Government supported the common position and the agreement reached with the Parliament, both of which delivered our key objectives. When it comes into force, member states will have three years to implement the Directive which will be published in the Official Journal shortly, when it will come in to force.
	The Government have begun consideration of the implementation of the Directive.

Fauna Distribution

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average number of species in (a) grassland and (b) woodland was (i) on the latest date for which figures are available and (ii) 10 years ago, broken down by region.

Ben Bradshaw: The information is as follows:
	(a) Grassland:
	Semi-natural grasslands are divided into six main Biodiversity Action Plan priority types. The figures in the table give an indication of the average number of plant species expected in a 4m 2 quadrat, assuming ideal management. But large variation in species number can occur depending on the different sub-types of grassland within the broad categories.
	
		
			 BAP priority grassland type Average number species per 4m(7) quadrat 
		
		
			 Lowland calcareous grassland 23 
			 Upland calcareous grassland 29 
			 Lowland meadows 26 
			 Upland meadows 26 
			 Purple moor grass and rush pastures 25 
			 Lowland acid grassland 18 
		
	
	The Countryside Surveys were established to monitor changes in land cover, landscape and biodiversity in Great Britain. Data has to date been collected for 1984, 1990 and 1998. This shows a change in mean number of species between 1990 and 1998. In the case of neutral grassland; calcareous and acid grassland in the west lowlands, a small decline in mean number of plant species/plot was recorded. But these changes were not   statistically significant. A statistically significant increase in mean number species/plot was recorded for acid grassland in the uplands.
	The random sampling approach means that for some rarer habitats, such as calcareous grasslands, the sample sizes were small decreasing the precision of the results.
	(b) Woodland:
	Woodlands are structurally diverse, and habitat for a vast number of species, including vascular plants, birds,   mammals, invertebrates, lichens, fungi and soil microbes. No comprehensive study has been undertaken.
	Woodlands can be categorised by broad Biodiversity Action Plan type; whether they are recognised as ancient or recent; semi-natural or plantation. Generally there is higher vascular plant species on ancient, semi-natural woodland. The survey data available over this time span includes all broadleaved woodland.
	
		Average species richness for different woodland types, using 4x4m or 10x10m quadrants. Adapted from Rodwell 1991
		
			  Priority BAP Habitat type Average number of species per plot 
		
		
			 Wet woodland 25 
			 Upland ash 36 
			 Upland oak 29 
			 Beech 15 
			 Yew 5 
		
	
	The Countryside Survey also covers woodland habitat, and can be used to show relative change over the same time period. The methodology used did not distinguish between different woodland types shown above, nor did it specify ancient woodland, so figures may be lower than expected.
	The following table below shows the mean species richness for a random sample of woods in England and Wales, between 1990 and 1998, using 200m 2 quadrants. From Haines-Young et al (2003).
	
		
			 Zone Number of samples Mean species richness 1990 Mean species richness 1998 
		
		
			 1 57 13.79 11.26 
			 2 43 16.93 15.93 
			 3 18 18.89 16.89 
		
	
	Zones:
	1=Easterly and southerly lowlands
	2=West lowlands
	3=Uplands

Fertilisers

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment has been made of the possible link between the use of chemical fertilisers in agriculture and the health of the wild freshwater fish population in the UK.

Ben Bradshaw: No specific study has been undertaken recently of possible links between the use of chemical fertilisers in agriculture and the status of the wild freshwater fish populations in the UK. However, various studies have been undertaken on the effects of increased nutrient loads in rivers and lakes. In addition, water quality, including the effects of contaminants such as chemical fertilisers, is one the factors routinely considered when assessing the state of fish stocks. Water quality is assessed when developing Salmon Action Plans aimed at the conservation and enhancement of salmon in rivers in England and Wales.

Fisheries

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to publish the outcome of the review of fisheries and environmental enforcement; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: I am considering the report of the Review and expect to publish it shortly.

Food Promotion

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has to encourage the local sourcing of food and other products.

Alun Michael: The Government recognises the benefits of local food and is keen to encourage a flourishing local food sector. Money is available under the England Rural Development Programme for supporting activities such as the establishment of Farmers' Markets, the development of regional and local branding of foodstuffs and the formation of collaborative groups to market quality products. For example, within the last year we awarded £100, 256 to the National Association of Farmers' Markets to raise the profile of farmers' markets across England and to increase public awareness of them.
	DEFRA has also helped finance a number of local sourcing workshops organised by the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) designed to bring together supermarkets and small local producers to explore how barriers to local sourcing can be overcome. Following on from this, we helped fund the Business in The Community (BiTC) and IGD guide for small businesses looking to work with large food retailers and food service companies—"Local Sourcing—Opening the Door for Small Business". In addition to this, our Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative is designed to encourage public sector bodies to procure their food in a manner that promotes sustainable development and to encourage more small and local businesses to compete to supply them with food.
	This work will be complemented at a regional level through the regional plans that each Regional Development Agency (RDA) is drawing up to help deliver the Government Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food. Although the nature of this support will be determined according to regional priorities, issues to be addressed will include the production and supply of locally sourced food by encouraging food hubs and shared facilities and the linking of local producers with local retailers and tourist businesses.

Greyhounds

Phil Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the minimum standards for kennels at greyhound tracks are.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government do not currently set minimum standards for kennelling at greyhound tracks but under the Protection of Animals Act 1911 it is an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to a domestic or captive animal. This offence covers welfare at racetracks. It is proposed to consolidate and modernise the legislation relating to domestic and captive animals and a draft Bill is currently being prepared.

Greyhounds

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what minimum standards breeders of greyhounds must meet.

Ben Bradshaw: Commercial greyhound breeding is covered by the Breeding of Dogs Acts 1973 and 1991, and the Breeding and Sale of Dogs Welfare Act 1999. There is also protection under the Protection of Animals Act 1911, under which it is an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to a domestic or captive animal. It is proposed to consolidate and modernise this legislation and a draft Bill is currently being prepared.

Harmful Chemicals

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research she has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effects on UK citizens of exposure to harmful chemicals, with particular reference to those found in everyday products.

Alun Michael: The Department carries out and/or evaluates research on a wide range of industrial chemicals through three main routes. In each case, the work focuses on particular chemicals or groups of chemicals of interest irrespective of exposure route (environmental, consumer, etc.). These chemicals have many uses and are present in many everyday products.
	Through our commitments to the European Union's risk assessment programme under the Existing Substances Regulation (EEC) 793/93. Details of the programme can be found on the European Chemicals Bureau website at: http://ecb.jrc.it/existing-chemicals/. The programme aims to identify potentially harmful chemicals based on four priority lists of substances drawn up by the European Commission in consultation with member states. The UK has been the sole rapporteur for 21 and joint with other member states on a further five of the 141 substances this programme has identified.
	At a national level, through bodies like the Advisory Committee on Hazardous Substances (ACHS) (see http://www. defra.gov.uk/environment/chemicals/achs/index.htm) and the Chemicals Stakeholder Forum (CSF) (see http://www. defra.gov.uk/environment/chemicals/csf/index.htm). These bodies investigate the effects of chemicals on the environment and society as well as providing advice and guidance on dealing with hazardous chemicals. Defra also commissions and evaluates research, often in close co-operation with the Environment Agency, on the hazards and risks of specific chemicals or groups of chemicals of concern such as perfluorooctanyl sulphonate (PFOS), endocrine disrupters, chlorinated and brominated flame retardants and dioxins and dioxin-like substances.
	Through the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) Chemicals Programme. Defra provides funding to this organisation where risk to human health and the environment posed by chemicals is determined by chemical-specific hazard properties and the amount of exposure to chemicals. The organisation assists member countries in developing and harmonising methods for assessing such risk.

Harmful Chemicals

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to recommend that the proposed European Chemicals Regulation (REACH) incorporate a legal framework for the substitution of harmful man—made chemicals where safer alternatives exist; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: The authorisation process under REACH is designed to ensure proper control of substances of high concern and their eventual replacement by suitable substances or technologies. There are practical difficulties in making substitution an absolute legal requirement under REACH. The Government is currently considering the provisions relating to substitution to see whether they are likely to achieve the desired effect of acting as a sufficiently strong incentive—along with other incentives such as market pressure—for industry to develop new and safer substitutes.
	In order to make an informed decision, the Government is consulting on proposals for addressing substitution as part of its consultation paper on the New EU Chemicals strategy issued on 30 March 2004 and all contributions are welcome. The closing date for responses is 25 June 2004.
	Information is available on DEFRA website: http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/reach/index.htm.

Hunting Ban

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans are in place to prevent the destruction of hunting dogs in the event of a hunting ban being introduced.

Alun Michael: The owners are responsible for the welfare of their animals. The Government would expect organisations such as the Kennel Club and the RSPCA to give advice and help on the best course of action to owners of dogs affected by any legislation such as the proposals on hunting with dogs.
	Evidence to the Burns Inquiry suggests that hunts keep some 20,000 dogs for hunting. Several thousand dogs are put down every year after some six or seven years' hunting, when they are considered to have reached the end of their working lives. Some dogs presently involved in hunting are capable of being domesticated or are domestic animals and capable of rehoming. It may be the case that some dogs are pack animals which would not settle and could not be rehomed.

Illegal Meat Imports

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the risks to biosecurity as a result of illegal imports of meat; and what representations she has received about the threat to biosecurity as a result of such imports.

Ben Bradshaw: In March 2003, DEFRA published the Veterinary Laboratories Agency "Risk Assessment for the Import of Meat and Meat Products Contaminated with Foot and Mouth Disease Virus into Great Britain and the Subsequent Exposure of GB Livestock".
	This estimated that FMD infection of GB livestock due to contaminated illegally imported meat would occur with a mean of one infection in 130 years, with a 90 per cent. certainty interval ranging from one infection in 41 years to one infection in 1,100 years.
	A further report updating this risk assessment, incorporating additional data, will be published in the next few months. This report will also include similar risk assessments on three pig diseases—Classical Swine Fever, African Swine Fever and Swine Vesicular Disease.
	All seizures of illegal imports are disposed as if they were category 1 material under the Animal By-Products Regulations (2003) and are sent for incineration without undue delay.
	We have received many representations from stakeholders on these issues both in meetings and via correspondence and we take account of their views in developing our strategy.
	We continue to work with interested groups on projects, such as with countryside user groups to raise awareness of all inland biosecurity issues, and with the Bushmeat Campaign and others in taking forward the message through publicity campaigns aimed at ethnic minority communities.

Insects

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the likely effects of climate change on the UK's biodiversity in respect of insects, including butterflies; and what measures she proposes to take to counter such effects.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department, along with the Devolved Administrations, statutory nature conservation agencies and non-governmental organisations, is contributing to an on-going research programme on the impacts of climate change on biodiversity in the UK. Results suggest that as climate changes, the distribution of species and the composition of habitats will change. With warmer temperatures, some northern species are likely to retreat, while southern species may be able to expand their ranges. At the same time, coastal habitats will be affected by rising sea levels. On land, movement of some species may be impeded by our fragmented landscapes, possibly leading to local extinctions. However, there is already evidence that some butterfly species have expanded their ranges northward in recent years.
	The Government's existing policies for nature conservation provide the basis to mitigate the effects of   climate change on biodiversity, by protecting and restoring wildlife habitats and concerted action to reverse the decline of threatened species. New evidence from research and monitoring is taken into account in developing these policies and management strategies. However, there remains considerable scientific uncertainty about the implications for individual species.
	The Government are fully committed to the Kyoto Protocol and to reducing the UK's greenhouse gas emissions. Through the Climate Change Programme we have put in place a strong programme of policies and measures to ensure that the UK meets its commitments under the Kyoto Protocol and moves towards its domestic goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. on 1990 levels by 2010. Longer term, the UK aims to strengthen its action further by putting itself on a path to a 60 per cent. reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2050.

Insects

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to (a) survey and (b) monitor the UK's future biodiversity in respect of insects.

Ben Bradshaw: An organisation called the National Biodiversity Network Trust is currently co-ordinating actions by a range of interested parties to bring together the biological recording efforts of volunteers and agencies. The work of the NBN Trust is supported by the Government agencies responsible for biodiversity and the Government support this work through the grant-in-aid to these agencies.
	In addition, DEFRA has provided financial support for specific surveys such as the Millennium Butterfly Atlas and monitoring work on butterflies on land subject to   agri-environment schemes. Species of particular concern are subject to individual specific action under the Biodiversity Action Plan and Government support this process through their conservation agencies in England, Wales and Scotland and the Environment and Heritage Service in Northern Ireland. Volunteers, through their relevant national schemes or societies, carry out much of the survey and monitoring work on priority species.
	The vast majority of information on the distribution, status and trends of species comes from the activities of volunteers. These are individuals with a special interest in insects who give freely of their spare time. A key part of the work of the NBN Trust is about supporting these people and encouraging the next generation of biological recorders. Replacing the effort of volunteers with contracted survey would be extremely costly and need continued funding. The Government support the work of the NBN Trust as the primary mechanism to secure the continued supply of information from volunteers through capacity building of support networks at national and local scale.
	We believe that the short life spans and diverse needs of insects make some of them good indicators of environmental change. Information on the status and trends in insects, and other plants and animals, would be extremely helpful in both detecting adverse change and identifying sustainable practices. We recognise that some groups of insects do not have the resources necessary to provide a comprehensive baseline of information and more resources are needed. DEFRA is currently exploring options for improving surveillance and monitoring of species, including insects, and will consider future funding in the light of discussions with the conservation agencies and representatives of voluntary conservation organisations.

Land Distribution

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many hectares were classified as (a) grassland, (b) land for crop growing, (c) woodland, (d) urban, (e) suburban and (f) semi-natural vegetation in each year since 1974   in the UK, broken down by (i) region and (ii) county.

Ben Bradshaw: Estimates of the area of farmland in England which is classified as grassland, crops and bare fallow, and other agricultural land is available from the Agricultural Census for the years 1990, 1995, 2000, 2001 and 2002. Estimates of the area of woodland in England in 1995–99 is available from the Forestry Commission, while information on the extent of urban areas (including suburban land) in England in 1981, 1991 and 2001 is available from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. No separate information is available on the extent of semi-natural land in England. A copy of the available information will be made available in the Library of the House. Information about the area of land in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland falls under the jurisdiction of the devolved authorities.

Market and Coastal Towns Initiative

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on progress by each Regional Development Agency on the Market and Coastal Towns Initiative; and what the budget for each RDA was for each year of the initiative.

Alun Michael: When the announcement of the funding was made, it was envisaged that 100 towns would benefit but I am pleased to report that, through the innovative methods used in each of the regions, 227 towns are currently receiving support.
	The Rural White Paper offered funding of £37 million to enable the Regional Development Agencies and the   Countryside Agency to support market town regeneration in the regions over a period of three years (2000–01 to 2003–04).
	£32 million was allocated to the Regional Development Agencies and £5 million to the Countryside Agency. The funding for the Regional Development Agencies was incorporated in the DEFRA contribution to their Single Programme, to enable regional partnerships to target towns in their region according to selection criteria agreed regionally. The initiative was not established as a national funding programme with an annual budget for each agency.
	The start of the initiative was delayed in many of the regions due to the foot and mouth crisis, with some regions not launching their own initiatives or incurring spend until last year. For this reason data from the Regional Development Agencies on their expenditure is unlikely to be available until the initiative is evaluated, which DEFRA is currently discussing with the Regional Development Agencies.

Parliamentary Questions

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she intends to take to ensure that questions tabled for a named day response are answered on the specified day.

Alun Michael: I have explained to officials at DEFRA the importance attached by parliamentarians to receiving a full and prompt reply to formal questions. I have asked for further steps to be taken to make sure that this is fully understood in every part of the Department. It must be understood that there is a cost to providing answers, both in financial terms and in the time of officials that has to be diverted to providing answers or to meeting a deadline in the case of "named day" questions and that some information is simply not available in the form requested. I and my Ministerial colleagues are always willing to discuss the needs of Members.

Salmon

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what systems are in place to regulate the operational activities of commercial salmon farmers in the UK.

Ben Bradshaw: All fish farms are subject to EU and national legislative controls to prevent the introduction and spread of serious fish disease. Under these arrangements all farms must be registered or licensed as required by the appropriate Fisheries Department and keep a record of the movement of fish for disease control purposes. Controls also apply to the import and export of farmed fish.
	All salmon farms require a Crown Estate lease and development consent, and are subject to conservation and environmental measures. The use of medicines on fish farms and welfare of farmed fish are also subject to control.

Salmon

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment has been made of the health of the wild salmon population in the UK.

Ben Bradshaw: Assessments of the current state of wild salmon stocks in UK have been compiled in the last month in Scotland (by Fisheries Research Services), in England and Wales (by CEFAS and the Environment Agency) and in Northern Ireland (by DARDNI). These reports have been submitted to the North Atlantic Salmon Working Group of the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES), which is meeting currently, and will be used to provide an overall assessment of the status of salmon stocks throughout the North Atlantic for submission to the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO). The report for England and Wales has been published and may be obtained from the Environment Agency. The annual statistical bulletin, Scottish Salmon and Sea Trout Catches, 2003, is scheduled for publication in late summer.

Severely Disadvantaged Areas

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farms are currently classed as containing both severely disadvantaged area and non-severely disadvantaged area land.

Alun Michael: We currently do not classify farm businesses in the way requested. However, in 2003, 8,261 farmers claimed Hill Farm Allowance on both severely disadvantaged and disadvantaged (i.e. non-severely-disadvantaged) land. Holdings of less than 10 hectares are excluded from HFA, and so are not included in this figure. Neither would it include farm businesses with severely disadvantaged land and land ineligible for HFA, but no disadvantaged land.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what resources her Department makes available to local authorities for Sites of Special Scientific Interest; and how much was made available in 2003–04.

Ben Bradshaw: The overall funding requirements of local authorities is a matter for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. The Department does not provide direct funding to local authorities specifically for the management of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). SSSI landowners and managers, such as local authorities, are able to access, subject to conditions, a variety of funding streams which can benefit SSSIs, including from English Nature, agri-environment schemes and from lottery or EU sources. English Nature estimate that overall local authorities own or manage about 4.7 per cent. of England's SSSI land.

St. George's Day

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Country Land and Business Association about St. George's Day breakfasts.

Alun Michael: The Government recognises the benefits of local food and welcomes initiatives like the Country Land and Business Association's (CLA) initiative that aim to encourage people to buy more locally sourced foods. Money is available under the England Rural Development Programme to support activities such as the establishment of Farmers' Markets, the development of regional and local branding of food and the formation of co-operative groups to market quality products. DEFRA has also worked with the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) to produce best practice guides designed to show how supermarkets and food service companies can work with small local producers and explore how barriers to local sourcing can be overcome. In addition to this, our Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative is designed to encourage public sector bodies to procure their food in a manner that promotes sustainable development and to encourage more small and local businesses to compete to supply them with food.
	The CLA initiative also complements the Government's three-year programme of support for the quality regional food sector which is being delivered by Food From Britain. This £3 million programme aims to promote the quality regional food sector and consists of a range of activities focussing on trade development, increasing competitiveness and raising consumer awareness.

Stone Curlews

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she   has to change the boundaries of the Breckland Farmland Site of Special Scientific Interest to reflect changes in the stone curlew population.

Ben Bradshaw: The Secretary of State has no role in the determination of the boundaries of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), this is a matter for English Nature.
	I understand however, that English Nature has no plans at this time to recommend changes to the boundary of the Breckland Farmland SSSI. Survey and monitoring of the number and distribution of stone curlews is carried out annually throughout Breckland. This data is regularly reviewed to assess any significant changes in the population and its distribution.
	If, in the future, there is evidence that parts of the SSSI no longer support the special interest (breeding stone curlew) or that areas beyond the existing SSSI boundary become important, the legislation provides that English Nature has the discretion to de-notify parts of the site or extend the SSSI boundary to incorporate any new areas that may qualify.

Trees

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the percentage tree cover in each EU member state was (a) on the latest date for which figures are available, (b) 10 years ago and (c) 20 years ago.

Ben Bradshaw: Based on information collected by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation forest as a percentage of land area is given in the table as follows.
	
		
			 Country 20001 1990 1 1980 2 
		
		
			 Austria 47 46 45 
			 Belgium/Luxembourg 22 23 23 
			 Denmark 11 10 11 
			 Finland 72 72 76 
			 France 28 27 28 
			 Germany 31 31 29 
			 Greece 28 26 45 
			 Ireland 10 7 6 
			 Italy 34 33 27 
			 Netherlands 11 11 10 
			 Portugal 40 34 35 
			 Spain 29 27 25 
			 Sweden 66 66 68 
			 United Kingdom 12 11 9 
		
	
	Notes:
	(6) FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2000. Definitions of forest can vary between countries and over time.
	(7) FAO The Forest Resources of the ECE Region, published 1985. The years covered vary between countries, although most are around 1980. Definitions of forest can vary between countries.

Trees

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps (a) have been taken and (b) are planned to improve tree health.

Ben Bradshaw: The need to maintain, and improve where necessary, the health and vitality of trees is integral to the government's approach to sustainable forest management. We have set this out in the UK Forestry Standard and its supporting literature, which contain many specific measures for protecting woodland and improving tree health. All woodland management by the Forestry Commission is consistent with this standard and we expect private woodland owners that receive grant aid from the Forestry Commission to also meet the standard. The government has encouraged the development of the voluntary UK Woodland Assurance Standard that provides an independent verification of compliance with good practice and measures to ensure the continuing good health of woodland. We shall continue to ensure compliance with the UK Forest Standard in those woods managed by the Forestry Commission and encourage it in the private sector. We will improve, through research, our knowledge of factors affecting tree health and we shall maintain a vigilant guard against the establishment of non-native pests and diseases.

Upland Farms (Environmental Management)

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she intends to take to ensure that farms in uplands are rewarded for improved environmental management of their land.

Alun Michael: A significant proportion of farmers in the uplands are already participating in our Environmentally Sensitive Area or Countryside Stewardship Schemes.
	Next year we plan to roll out our new agri-environment scheme called Environmental Stewardship. The Entry Level of that scheme will be available to all upland farmers and we hope that many more of them will decide to join it.

Woodlands

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total (a) area and (b) production in cubic metres of (i) broadleaf and (ii) coniferous woodland was in each year since 1980 (A) in England and (B) broken down by region.

Ben Bradshaw: A national woodland survey is carried out by the Forestry Commission at intervals of between 15 and 20 years. Comparative areas of woodland 1 in 1980 and 1998 were published in the latest National Inventory of Woodland and Trees, Regional Inventory reports. The figures are given in the following table.
	
		Thousand hectares
		
			  1980 2 1998 3 
			 Region Broadleaves Conifers Broadleaves Conifers 
		
		
			 North-East 16.2 73.3 24.5 69.2 
			 North-West 33.0 39.4 46.7 39.8 
			 Yorkshire and the   Humber 39.0 37.4 46.1 35.4 
			 East Midlands 37.8 21.6 52.9 17.9 
			 West Midlands 44.1 28.3 63.1 25.7 
			 East of England 59.4 40.7 90.2 37.5 
			 London 5.4 0.3 5.5 0.2 
			 South East 138.2 59.1 173.6 52.4 
			 South West 95.7 63.8 137.4 60.8 
			 Total England 468.8 363.9 640.0 338.9 
		
	
	(8) Excluding open space, coppice and felled areas awaiting replanting.
	(9) 1980 Census of Woodland.
	(10) National Inventory of Woodland and Trees—Regional Inventory Reports. Reference dates varied by region 1995 to 1999.
	(11) Differences in sampling methodology between 1980 and 1998 may account for some of the differences.
	(12) In the 1980 Census the area assigned to broadleaves and conifers included any associated open space such as roads and rides. In the 1998 Inventory open spaces are separately identified and to obtain meaningful comparison between the two datasets the 1980 Census data has been reduced by the percentage of open space identified in the 1998 Inventory (nationally 6.5 per cent.).
	Timber production is not recorded by region and the estimate for total England production is given in the following table.
	
		
			  (13)Removals in million cubic metres overbark standing 
			  Hardwoods (from broadleafed trees) Softwood (from conifer trees) 
		
		
			 1980 1.2 1.3 
			 1981 1.2 1.3 
			 1982 1.0 1.4 
			 1983 0.8 1.4 
			 1984 0.8 1.5 
			 1985 0.9 1.5 
			 1986 0.9 1.7 
			 1987 0.8 1.9 
			 1988 1.1 2.3 
			 1989 1.2 2.5 
			 1990 1.1 2.5 
			 1991 1.1 2.5 
			 1992 0.8 2.6 
			 1993 0.7 2.3 
			 1994 0.8 2.6 
			 1995 0.9 2.5 
			 1996 0.8 2.4 
			 1997 0.8 2.2 
			 1998 0.7 2.1 
			 1999 0.7 2.2 
			 2000 0.6 2.1 
			 2001 0.6 2.0 
			 2002 0.6 1.8 
		
	
	(13) Based on figures published in Forestry Facts and Figures for 1980–94, adjusted to consistent definition. Later figures for private sector removals estimated from a GB survey for 2000–02 and interpolated.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

British Prisoners (Thailand)

Lorna Fitzsimons: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last made representations to obtain pardons for British prisoners incarcerated in Thai prisons; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: On 1 April 2004, the Government agreed to make representations to the Thai authorities in support of a clemency petition submitted by a British prisoner in Thailand.

China

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Chinese Government concerning (a) the repatriation of the North Korean refugee Mr. Park Yong-chol (alias Jo Yong-su) from China to North Korea and (b) the mistreatment of the Chinese house church leader Pastor Gong Shengliang while in prison in Hongshan Prison, Wuhan City, Hubei Province.

Bill Rammell: We regularly raise the issue of North Korean border crossers at the biannual UK-China Human Rights Dialogue and on other high level occasions. We are aware of the case of Mr. Park. The European Commission has recently suggested that the EU should raise the matter urgently with the Chinese authorities; this is now under consideration by the EU presidency.
	We have raised Pastor Gong Shengliang's case with   the Chinese authorities on several occasions. We supported an EU demarche in Beijing in July last year on this case.

Climate Change

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made by his Department of the implications for national security of climate change.

Ivor Caplin: I have been asked to reply.
	The Ministry of Defence is reviewing the implications of climate change for national security as part of its wider assessment of strategic trends that might impact on the United Kingdom's interests.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to reply to the letter to him from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton dated 26 January 2004 with regard to Mosamuat Meherun Nessa Begum.

Chris Mullin: I refer my right hon. Friend to my answer of 8 March 2004, Official Report, column 1316W.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to reply to the letter to him from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton dated 1 March 2004 with regard to Mr. Hachemi Nessai.

Chris Mullin: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary replied on 25 March 2004. However, he will write again shortly.

Departmental Employment Policy

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for   Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make   a statement on his Department's employment termination policy for locally-engaged members of staff.

Mike O'Brien: In Foreign and Commonwealth Office posts overseas the rights of all locally engaged employees are protected by local law.
	Every post is required to set out the termination procedure in the Terms and Conditions of Service given to each employee on appointment.
	Procedures for terminating employment therefore vary across posts.

Departmental Employment Policy

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for   Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many employment termination cases of locally-engaged members of staff have been (a) disputed and (b) taken to arbitration; and in how many instances the findings have been in favour of the member of staff.

Mike O'Brien: Locally engaged employees have the right to take their case to a local court if they have a dispute over the termination of their employment. To obtain details from each overseas post would incur disproportionate costs.

Departmental Employment Policy

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much severance pay has been awarded to his Department's locally-engaged members of staff in each year since 1997, broken down by country.

Mike O'Brien: Severance pay for locally engaged employees of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is governed according to local law and practice in the country the employee is working. To obtain figures from each overseas post would incur disproportionate costs.

Departmental Expenditure (Entertainment)

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his latest estimate is of the amount spent by his Department on official entertainment in each year from 1996–97 to 2004–05.

Bill Rammell: Comparable information is available only for the years 2000–01 to 2004–05. The following figures show the actual spend on entertainment within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for the first three years, with a forecast for 2003–04 and 2004–05 based upon expenditure to date.
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2000–01 8,337,306 
			 2001–02 8,708,262 
			 2002–03 8,612,247 
			 2003–04 (14)8.135,315 
			 2004–05 (14)7,687,873 
		
	
	(14) Estimated.
	All expenditure on entertainment within the Department is carefully monitored to ensure that it is made in accordance with departmental guidance that is   based on the principles set out in "Government Accounting".

Fingerprinting (USA Entry)

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State   for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has received from the travel industry regarding the fingerprinting of British citizens wishing to travel to the United States; and if she will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: There have been no formal representations by the travel industry, although the finger-scanning of British citizens on arrival in the United States has been discussed in our regular meetings with the industry.

Indonesia

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution his Department is making to the reconciliation process in Sulawesi.

Mike O'Brien: The UK's Global Conflict Prevention Pool is used in Indonesia to facilitate inter-faith dialogue. DFID has also committed over £4 million to help establish the United Nations Development Programme Conflict Prevention and Recovery Unit in Jakarta. The unit will help build up capacity in conflict reduction and recovery in provinces torn apart by religious conflict, such as Sulawesi and Maluku.

Iraq

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the Government are giving to the tribunal and its staff investigating crimes by Saddam Hussein; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Our secondees in the Coalition Provisional Authority Office of Human Rights and Transitional Justice have provided assistance with the drafting of the Statute, Rules of Procedure and Elements of Crime for the Iraq Special Tribunal (IST). They have also developed the investigations strategy and mass grave action plan for the IST. We have agreed to Iraqi requests to provide further assistance, possibilities for which include: forensic expertise; judicial training; judicial advisers; and public education and outreach. And we have agreed to provide the IST Administration Department with a list of international investigators and analysts to support Iraqi capacity. We are also encouraging other EU partners to consider favourably requests for assistance from the Iraqis.

Iraq

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what period of production is represented by the $7,855,209,215.35 received from oil proceeds by the Development Fund for Iraq up to 16 April 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: The $7,855,209,215.35 received from oil proceeds by the Development Fund for Iraq up to 16 April represents the period of production from 28 May 2003 to mid-March 2004.

Iraq

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future role of the International Advisory Monitoring Board in monitoring and auditing the Development Fund for Iraq after 30 June 2004.

Jack Straw: The International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB), as specified in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1483 and the IAMB Terms of Reference, wall cease to be responsible for the auditing of the Development Fund for Iraq once a fully sovereign Iraqi Government has been established. The UK Government would like to see arrangements put in place acceptable to the Iraqi interim administration for the independent and credible audit of Iraqi's oil revenues following the transfer of sovereignty. We are currently in discussion with the Iraqi authorities, the UN international financial institutions, and other countries on how this objective might be best achieved.

Iraq

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the proposed appointment of voting Iraqi members to the Board of the International Advisory Monitoring Board.

Jack Straw: We are not aware of voting Iraqi members being appointed to the Board of the International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB). The IAMB comprises voting members from the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the Arab Fund for Social and Economic Development and the World Bank.
	The IAMB, after consulting with the Coalition Provisional Authority administrator, may appoint up to five observers to IAMB meetings, including Iraqi nationals nominated by the Governing Council of Iraq. The IAMB in its press statement of 24 April 2004 welcomed Iraqi Governing Council observer Professor Mahdi Hadi Al-Kafari, and Mr Ihsan Ghanim representing the Iraqi Board of Supreme Audit, to the IAMB. Other Iraqi observers have been invited to IAMB meetings in the past. IAMB observers are not members of the IAMB and have no voting rights.

Small Grants Scheme

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much is available this year for distribution under the small grants scheme by the UK Ambassador or High Commissioner in each country in which the scheme operates; and how much was distributed in each country in each of the last three years.

Bill Rammell: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has not operated a Small Grants Scheme (SGS) in the past three years. However, an SGS is run and managed by the Department for International Development (DFID). A proportion of DFID's SGS is disbursed through FCO Posts but is not charged to the FCO budget.

South Africa

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) South Africa's Defence Minister, Mosiuoa Lekota, and (b) other members of the Government of South Africa concerning the proposed creation of a South African standby force by 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: The African Union aims to establish an African Standby Force (ASF) for peace support operations on the continent. The ASF will be set up in two phases. Phase one is due to be completed by 2005 and phase two by 2010. It will be based on five regional brigades, including one from southern Africa.
	We regularly discuss this initiative with the South African authorities, who are playing a key role. The UK is providing practical assistance, including through training by the British Peace Support Team in Pretoria.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence met South African Defence Minister, Lekota, on 8 March. They discussed a range of subjects, including the African Union.

United Arab Emirates

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what joint activity the UK undertakes with the United Arab Emirates on counter-terrorism.

Denis MacShane: We have a close and high-level counter-terrorism dialogue with the UAE authorities. The Government currently supplies training and advice on money laundering and terrorist financing, as well as extensive customs training. We are also developing a range of capacity building initiatives in the counter terrorism area.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

"Oil Crises and Climate Challenges"

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will publish her response to the International Energy Agency's publication, "Oil Crises and Climate Challenges".

Stephen Timms: The IEA carries out detailed analytical work on a wide range of energy policy issues and produces a considerable number of publications each year. As other IEA members, the UK is able to contribute to the nature and content of individual IEA publications when they are still in the draft stage. The Department, therefore, does not generally view it as necessary to make official responses to IEA publications. It has not made an official response to this publication and does not intend to do so.

Accountancy Services

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the (a) nature and (b) value was of all contracts, consultancies or other services placed with the accountancy firms (i) Deloitte & Touche, (ii) Ernst & Young, (iii) KPMG and (iv)   PricewaterhouseCoopers since 2000–01 by the Department and its agencies.

Jacqui Smith: Central records indicate the following values for the three financial years since 2000–01:
	
		
			 Supplier/financial year Spend (£) 
		
		
			 Deloitte & Touche  
			 2001–02 6,504,084 
			 2002–03 10,784,757 
			 2003–04 12,105,274 
			 Ernst & Young  
			 2001–02 1,289,628 
			 2002–03 1,625,512 
			 2003–04 2,615,137 
			 KPMG  
			 2001–02 94,347 
			 2002–03 236,976 
			 2003–04 2,121,207 
			 PricewaterhouseCooper  
			 2001–02 3,507,357 
			 2002–03 9,297,179 
			 2003–04 5,776,612 
		
	
	The nature of these contracts included research, IT services and consultancy, market research, financial consultancy, legal services and consultancy, training and project management. Details of individual contracts can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	I have asked the Department's Executive Agencies to reply direct to the hon. Member. Small Business Service's figures are included in the above table.
	Letter from Ron Marchant to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 29 April 2004
	I am replying to this parliamentary question, tabled on 1 April 2004, concerning the nature and value of all contracts, consultancies or other services placed with the accountancy firms (i) Deloitte & Touche, (ii) Ernst & Young, (iii) KPMG and (iv) PricewaterhouseCoopers since 2000–01.
	The Patent Office has not let contracts, consultancies or other services with the aforementioned accountancy firms during the above period.
	Letter from Desmond Flynn to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 29 April 2004
	The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply to you directly on behalf of The Insolvency Service in respect of your question (2003/2390) asking what the (a) nature and (b) value was all contracts, consultancies and other services placed with the accountancy firms (i) Deloitte & Touche, (ii) Ernst & Young, (iii) KPMG and (IV) PricewaterhouseCoopers since 2000–01 by the Department and agencies.
	I can confirm that The Insolvency Service has had no contracts, consultancies or other services with any of the above-named firms since 2000–01.
	Letter from Dr. J. W. Llewellyn to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 29 April 2004
	The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply on behalf of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML) to your question about the nature and value of all contracts, consultancies and other services placed with Deloitte and Touche, Ernst and Young, KPMG and PriceWaterhouseCoopers since 2000–2001.
	Since 2000–01 NWML has not placed any work with the accountancy firms listed.
	Letter from Claire Clancy to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 29 April 2004
	I am responding to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on behalf of Companies House, which is an Executive Agency of the DTL.
	Since 2000/01 we have had one contract with Ernst and Young for an HR review in 2003 with a total value of £27,095.94.
	We have not had any contracts with Deloitte and Touche, KPMG or PricewaterhouseCoopers.
	Letter from Roger Heathcote to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 29 April 2004
	You asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the (a) nature and (b) value was of all contracts, consultancies or other services placed with the accountancy firms (i) Deloitte & Touche, (ii) Ernst & Young, (iii) KPMG and (iv) PricewaterhouseCoopers since 2000–01 by the Department and its agencies. I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Employment Tribunals Service.
	The Employment Tribunals Service used Deloitte and Touche in 2001 to undertake a Pay and Grading Review. The cost of the review was £50,000. The project was completed in May 2001.

Electricity Generation

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of electricity has been generated from renewable sources in each of the last seven years for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The percentages of electricity derived from renewable sources in the each of the seven years from 1997 to 2003 are as follows:
	
		Percentage
		
			   Overall Sources eligible for Renewable Obligation 
		
		
			 1997 2.12 0.78 
			 1998 2.55 0.95 
			 1999 2.76 1.18 
			 2000 2.75 1.32 
			 2001 2.62 1.52 
			 2002 2.96 1.74 
			 2003 (Provisional) 2.9 2.0 
		
	
	Source:
	Digest of UK Energy Statistics 2003 and Digests for earlier years.
	This overall renewables percentage includes both biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes and large scale hydro. The amount of electricity produced using hydro sources varies from year to year depending on the rainfall. Low precipitation during the winters of 2000–01 and 2002–03 resulted in low hydro output during 2001 and 2003 hence the fall in generation from renewables in those years.
	Source eligible for the Renewables Obligation are biofuels (including the co-firing of biomass with fossil fuel), onshore and offshore wind, all new hydro, refurbished hydro up to 20 MW (commissioned before 1990), solar photovoltaics and wave and tidal technologies. As more and more onshore and offshore wind projects are commissioned, we can expect to see substantial growth in the amount of renewables electricity output over the coming years.

Electricity Generation

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimates she has made of the expected generation costs per MWh for (a) wind and (b) nuclear technologies in (i) 2010 and (ii) 2020.

Stephen Timms: The Department has published estimates of the cost of electricity generation from a variety of technologies. These are contained in a report published in February 2002 available at: www.dti.gov.uk/energy/greenhousegas/index.shtml.
	The Performance and Innovation Unit at the Cabinet Office also published similar estimates in its 2001 Energy Review. These are available at: www.number-10.gov.uk/su/energy/l.html.
	Work undertaken for the Renewables Innovation Review covering wind generation costs is also available at: www.dti.gov.uk/energy/renewables/policy/oxeraresults.pdf.

EU Emissions Trading Scheme

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what range of prices for carbon is being included in her Department's forward energy projections from 2005 onwards, with reference to the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

Stephen Timms: We have considered a range for the price of a carbon emission allowance from €5 per tonne to €25 per tonne of carbon dioxide (tCO 2 ) for our forward energy projections and other work related to the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). We expect the carbon price to be towards the lower end of the range. EU ETS carbon allowances are currently trading at about €7 per tonne of CO 2 , albeit on low sales volumes.

Manufacturing Industry

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what the average age is of an employee in the manufacturing industry in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK; and what it has been in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many people employed in the (a) manufacturing industry and (b) service sector have been over 50 years old in (i) the Jarrow constituency, (ii) South Tyneside, (iii) the North East and (iv) the UK in each year since 1997;
	(3)  how many (a) men and (b) women have been employed in the service sector in (i) the Jarrow constituency, (ii) South Tyneside, (iii) the North East and (iv) the UK in each year since 1997;
	(4)  how many (a) women and (b) people have been employed in the manufacturing industry in (i) the Jarrow constituency, (ii) South Tyneside, (iii) the North East and (iv) the UK in each year since 1997;
	(5)  what the average age has been of an employee in the service sector in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each year since 1997.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Stephen Hepburn, dated 29 April 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about employment in Jarrow constituency and at regional and national level. (166768, 166769, 166770, 166771, 166772)
	The attached tables give the information requested for
	Jarrow Parliamentary Constituency,
	South Tyneside Local Authority,
	the North East, and
	the UK
	for the twelve month periods ending February each year from 2000 to 2002.
	Information is not currently available for earlier or later periods, although the data for the twelve month period ending in February 2003 is to be published by ONS on 28 April 2004. Estimates are taken from the Labour Force Survey (LFS), carried out by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). As with any statistical sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to sampling variability.
	
		Table 1: Number of employees in the manufacturing and service sectors in selected areas (not seasonally adjusted) by gender, 12 month periods ending February 2000, 2001 and 2002 -- Thousand
		
			  2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Manufacturing sector(15)
			 All employees
			 Jarrow Constituency 10 7 8 
			 South Tyneside 12 11 12 
			 North East 194 187 188 
			 United Kingdom 4,420 4,271 4,188 
			 Male
			 Jarrow Constituency 7 6 6 
			 South Tyneside 10 9 10 
			 North East 147 146 141 
			 United Kingdom 3,226 3,141 3,069 
			 Female
			 Jarrow Constituency (16)— (16)— (16)— 
			 South Tyneside (16)— 2 3 
			 North East 47 41 46 
			 United Kingdom 1,193 1,130 1,119 
			  
			 Service sector(15) 
			 All employees
			 Jarrow Constituency 22 23 22 
			 South Tyneside 35 38 38 
			 North East 654 689 697 
			 United Kingdom 17,280 17,626 17,941 
			 Male
			 Jarrow Constituency 9 9 9 
			 South Tyneside 12 15 15 
			 North East 256 278 279 
			 United Kingdom 7,437 7,583 7,732 
			 Female
			 Jarrow Constituency 14 13 14 
			 South Tyneside 23 23 23 
			 North East 398 411 418 
			 United Kingdom 9,843 10,043 10,209 
		
	
	(15) Manufacturing and service sectors are based on the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) 1992.
	(16) Sample size too small for reliable estimate.
	Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey .
	
		Table 2: Number of employees in manufacturing and service sectors aged over 501 (not seasonally adjusted) 12 month periods ending February 2000, 2001 and 2002 -- Thousand
		
			  2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Manufacturing sector(18)
			 All employees
			 Jarrow Constituency (19)— (19)— (19)— 
			 South Tyneside (19)— 2 2 
			 North East 31 36 36 
			 United Kingdom 947 920 922 
			 
			 Service sector(18)
			 Jarrow Constituency (19)— 4 4 
			 South Tyneside 6 7 7 
			 North East 126 129 136 
			 United Kingdom 3,378 3,520 3,676 
		
	
	(17) Includes employees aged 50 to 99.
	(18) Manufacturing and service sectors are based on the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) 1992.
	(19) Sample size too small for reliable estimate.
	Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey.
	
		Table 3: Average age of employees in manufacturing and service sectors (not seasonally adjusted) 12 month periods ending February 2000, 2001 and 2002
		
			  2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Manufacturing sector(20) 
			 Jarrow Constituency 37 37 38 
			 South Tyneside 37 38 39 
			 North East 37 39 39 
			 United Kingdom 39 39 40 
			 
			 Service sector(20)
			 Jarrow Constituency 38 39 39 
			 South Tyneside 38 38 38 
			 North East 38 38 38 
			 United Kingdom 38 38 38 
		
	
	(20) Manufacturing and service sectors are based on the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) 1992.
	Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey.

Miners' Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average payment made to solicitors was in (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful cases for (i) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and (ii) vibration white finger claims.

Nigel Griffiths: holding answer 26 April 2004
	The solicitors' costs are paid on a tariff basis, under the terms of the Claims Handling Agreements (CHA). Costs are only payable for successful claims, there are no costs payable for unsuccessful claims.
	Under the CHA the basic costs are:
	
		
			  Costs (£) 1 
		
		
			 COPD  
			 Settled expedited offers 955 
			 Settled full and final offers 1,856 
			 Settled chronic bronchitis only 531 
			   
			 VWF(22)  
			 General damages claims in Group 1 occupations(23) 652 
			 General damages claims in Group 2 occupations(24) 760 
		
	
	(21) Plus VAT plus disbursements.
	(22) Costs for handling services claims are not yet agreed.
	(23) Group 1 occupations incorporates the occupations where generally in the coal mining industry the use of hand held vibratory or percussive tools was recognised as a substantial part of the occupation.
	(24) Group 2 occupations incorporates the occupations where in the coal mining industry the use of hand held vibratory or percussive tools was not necessarily a substantial part of the job, however use by individuals within the group, may well have been significant.
	Note:
	In addition solicitors receive additional payments for handling Grant of Probates, disputes procedures and posthumous claims.

National Allocation Plan

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what energy assumptions have influenced her Department's policy on the appropriate carbon dioxide reduction target relative to 1990 levels within the National Allocation Plan to implement the EU Emissions Trading Directive.

Stephen Timms: The draft National Allocation Plan (NAP) indicated that the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) would be responsible for delivering the remaining savings of 1.5 million tonnes of Carbon (MtC) (equivalent to 5.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide) from 1990 levels by 2010 envisaged under the UK Climate Change Programme from emissions trading for which there are no policies currently in place. With the exception of the power generation sector, allowances to installations have been allocated on the basis of their projected emissions for the first phase of the scheme, which runs from 2005–07. These projections take account of updated estimates of the impacts and policy measures set out in the Climate Change Programme which have already been implemented or for which there are firm plans. Allowances to the power generation sector have been allocated on the basis that this sector will be responsible for the emissions trading savings of 1.5 MtC to be delivered by the EU ETS. This reflects the fact that the power generation sector faces limited international competition and has relatively good low-cost abatement opportunities.

National Allocation Plan

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the carbon dioxide emissions reduction targets in (a) the draft National Allocation Plan and (b) the climate change programme.

Stephen Timms: The UK Climate Change Programme envisaged that emissions trading would deliver carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) reductions of 2 million tonnes of Carbon (MtC) (equivalent to 7.3 million tonnes of CO 2 ) by 2010. As the UK Emissions Trading Scheme is expected to lead to CO 2 reductions of about 0.5 MtC (1.8 MtCO 2 ), the draft National Allocation Plan (NAP) indicated that the Government had decided that the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) would be used to achieve the remaining savings of 1.5 MtC (5.5 MtCO 2 ) by 2010.
	The draft NAP confirmed that the UK is firmly committed to its domestic goal set out in the 2000 Climate Change Programme of moving towards a 20 per cent. reduction in CO 2 emissions below 1990 levels by 2010. Subject to a review of the effectiveness of the EU ETS as a vehicle for delivering cost effective emissions reductions, it is intended that the total quantity of allowances to be issued for the second phase of the Scheme running from 2008 to 2012 will be set to ensure that installations covered by the Scheme make an appropriate contribution to that goal. This will be taken into account in the review of the Climate Change Programme which will take place later this year.

National Allocation Plan

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent the requirements of   the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive with regard to energy efficiency have been taken into account in future energy projections for the UK.

Stephen Timms: In practice, the impact of this Directive is likely to vary according to the installation considered and there is a good deal of uncertainty about how the Directive will impact in overall terms. In general, the DTI energy model does not make projections for installations to this level of detail. In modelling the power station sector, a modest improvement in energy efficiency has been assumed to take place at existing coal fired power stations.

National Allocation Plan

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will reconcile her revised growth projections for the UK iron and steel industry with the increases set out in the draft National Allocation Plan.

Stephen Timms: Following publication for consultation of the draft National Allocation Plan for the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) in January, work to refine our energy and emissions projections has continued. We will be publishing a working paper on overall emissions projections in May and a final set of emissions projections for the iron and steel and other sectors covered by the EU ETS in June or soon after. These projections will be used in determining the revised sectoral allocations to be included in the National Allocation Plan.

Post Office Closures

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices have been closed in Scotland as part of the urban reinvention programme.

Stephen Timms: Post Office Ltd. produces statistics on post office closures on a quarterly basis. The latest data on net closures by region currently available is to the end of December 2003. Data for the quarter to end March 2004 is expected shortly.
	There have been 35 post office closures in Scotland under the urban reinvention programme to end of December 2003.

Renewable Energy

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the effects of recent trends in investment in renewable energy and upon the residents of Heywood and Middleton.

Stephen Timms: Recent trends in renewable energy investment have been highly encouraging. More new capacity has been constructed in the last few years than in the previous decade, and a significant amount is currently in the pipeline. This covers a wide range of technologies including onshore and offshore wind, solar and biomass.
	While this investment has not translated into capacity within Heywood and Middleton itself, Renewables Northwest, a joint venture between the Regional Development Agency and United Utilities, has been working with local businesses on identifying opportunities in the renewable energy area.

Solar Heating

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to promote greater use of solar heating panels in the UK.

Stephen Timms: The Clear Skies initiative was launched in January 2003 in order to promote the uptake of a number of renewable technologies including solar heating panels. Grants are available to both individual householders and community groups in order to install solar heating panels. The initiative also has a list of registered installers and has developed a mentoring scheme in order to train future installers and increase the amount of companies able to install these technologies.
	Further details of the initiative, including grant levels, can be found on the website at www.clear-skies.org.
	The Scottish Executive has its own parallel scheme, The Scottish Community and Household Renewables Initiative, which also offers grants for the installation of solar heating panels. Further details can be found on the website www.est.co.uk/schri.

Solar Heating

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many households in the UK she estimates use solar heating panels; and what her estimate is of use in five years' time.

Stephen Timms: The DTI does not keep a record of solar heating installations but according to figures from the Building Research Establishment it is estimated that there are approximately 60,000 solar heating systems installed in the UK.
	At current installation rates of approximately 5,000 per year, there could potentially be a further 25,000 installations in five years time, assuming none of the current installations are removed.

Telephone Billing

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many disputes regarding telephone billing costs between customer and service providers were referred to Ofcom and its predecessors in each of the last five years; and how many of these were upheld in favour of (a) the customer and (b) the service provider.

Stephen Timms: The matter raised is the responsibility of the Office of Communications (Ofcom) as independent regulator. Accordingly, my officials have asked the Chief Executive of Ofcom to respond directly to the hon. Member. Copies of the Chief Executive's letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

HEALTH

Asperger's Syndrome

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department will set up an inquiry into the number of (a) adolescents and (b) adults with an Asperger's Syndrome diagnosis; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department has no plans to set up an inquiry of this type. The Medical Research Council (MRC) published a comprehensive review of autism research in December 2001, which provides an authoritative overview of the current state of knowledge on the prevalence, incidence and causes of autism and Asperger's syndrome. The report was commissioned by the Department. It is available on the MRC website at http://www.mrc.ac.uk/pdf-autism-report.pdf
	The MRC report notes that according to recent reviews, there appears fairly consistent agreement that autism spectrum disorders affect approximately 60, and more narrowly defined autism 10–30, per 10,000 children under eight years old. The prevalence of autism and Asperger's syndrome among adult and adolescent populations is not known.
	The Department allocated a further £2.5 million in February 2002 to the MRC to help take forward the recommendations of their report.
	The MRC held a series of four seminars to encourage the development of good quality applications for autism research funding between December 2002 and July 2003. On 11 July 2003, the MRC held the first of its annual forums for autism research, "Breaking barriers, building bridges", in conjunction with the National Autistic Society, to bring together ideas stimulated by the four seminars, one of which had addressed "Autism in Populations".
	The MRC will be taking decisions on the allocation of research project funding for further autism studies in May 2004.

Competent Authorities (EU Accession States)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for   Health whether the European Commission has provided a list of competent authorities operating in the accession states in respect of the health and social care profession to his Department.

John Hutton: No. The European Commission hopes to provide this information shortly.

Correspondence

David Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Spelthorne of 4 February, PO 1043915, regarding continuing care criteria.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 1 April 2004
	A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 27 April 2004.

European Health Training Standards

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, 
	(1)  whether his Department has asked the European Commission to introduce transitional arrangements for health professionals from the new member states who do not meet the minimum training standards specified in the European Community directives on medicine, nursing, midwifery and dentistry by 1 May;
	(2)  when the European Commission will make a statement on the readiness of the 10 new member states to meet the minimum training standards specified in the European Community directives on medicine, nursing, midwifery and dentistry by 1 May;
	(3)  what powers the UK health regulators will have in relation to the assessment of individuals whose training may not meet minimum EU training requirements as specified in the European Community directives on medicine, nursing, midwifery and dentistry;
	(4)  what action the European Commission will take against those accession states that do not meet the minimum training standards specified in the European Community directives on medicine, nursing, midwifery and dentistry by 1 May;
	(5)  what efforts his Department has made to secure information from the European Commission as to which of the 10 new member states will have met the minimum training standards specified in the European Community directives on medicine, nursing, midwifery and dentistry by 1 May; and what work his Department has done in co-operation with other member states to secure that information.

John Hutton: holding answer 1 April 2004
	We are in regular contact with the European Commission and the other member states on this issue. The Commission's assessment is that training in all the acceding countries will meet minimum requirements after 1 May. It is for the Commission to determine what action to take in relation to any acceding countries that do not meet these requirements. Where the qualifications awarded by the acceding countries do not meet minimum requirements, the regulatory bodies are entitled to require proof of recent and substantial practice experience as a condition of recognition. Where such proof is not available, they are entitles to assess applicants on a case-by-case basis.

Green Ministers

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings his Department's Green Minister has attended in the last 12 months in that role.

Melanie Johnson: The Department's Green Minister is a member of the ENV(G) Cabinet sub-committee and of the sustainable development taskforce. It has been established practice under successive Governments not to disclose information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet committees. This practice is now formalised by Exemption 2 of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government information.
	The Green Minister met representatives of the Sustainable Development Commission in October 2003.

Professional Registration (EU Nationals)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for   Health whether health care staff from other EU countries are able to work in the United Kingdom prior to the completion of registration with UK professional bodies; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: It is for employers to ensure that all staff are suitably qualified and experienced for the work to be done, regardless of their country of origin. Staff may not be employed in any capacity requiring registration without being registered. The status of individuals undertaking training or experience with a view to registration must be clearly distinguished from that of registered practitioners.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Treason

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Solicitor-General what her policy is on the prosecution of United Kingdom nationals for treason.

Harriet Harman: Any offence of treason would be dealt with in the same way as other prosecutions. Namely that the police investigate and the Crown Prosecution Service consider whether there is enough evidence and whether a prosecution is in the public interest.

Nottingham Criminal Justice Board

Graham Allen: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will make a statement on the work of the Crown Prosecution Service with the Nottingham Criminal Justice Board.

Harriet Harman: The Nottingham Criminal Justice Board is one of the 42 local Criminal Justice Boards where the police, courts, prosecutors and prison service work together to ensure a fair and affective criminal justice system. Kate Carty, the local Chief Crown Prosecutor, is a member of the board which is chaired by the Chief Constable.

Cannings Case Judgment

David Borrow: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will make a statement on the progress she is making in identifying prosecutions that may be affected by the Appeal Court's judgment in the appeal against the conviction of Angela Cannings.

Harriet Harman: The process of identifying prosecutions which may be affected by the Appeal Court's judgment in the appeal against conviction of Angela Cannings has been completed. Since the Appeal Court's judgment on 19 January the 300 relevant cases have been identified, of which 86 involve defendants in custody. There are three stages to the review process. To date, 167 cases have been reviewed and I will be in a position to tell the House the outcome of those reviews very shortly.
	Of the 16 ongoing prosecutions which may have been affected by the Cannings judgment, all have been reviewed and two have been discontinued. A Hampshire case was discontinued before trial and a Coventry case was discontinued before a retrial.

Fraud

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Solicitor-General what recent representations she has received regarding Government measures to eradicate fraudulent schemes targeted at small businesses.

Harriet Harman: I have not received any representations regarding these measures.

Wildlife Crime

David Kidney: To ask the Solicitor-General what guidance she gives to Crown Prosecution Service offices to ensure the consistent prosecution of wildlife crime.

Harriet Harman: The Crown Prosecution Service is aware of the need to make sure that effective measures are taken to ensure consistency in the prosecution of wildlife crime. It is a member of the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime.

PRIME MINISTER

EU Enlargement

Keith Vaz: To ask the Prime Minister what events he will be attending in order to show his support for the enlargement of the EU.

Tony Blair: I hosted a reception at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 28 April for 400 guests connected with the EU enlargement process and with the accession countries, including former Ministers and others from across the political spectrum. I will also attend the Irish EU Presidency's event to mark accession on 1 May in Dublin.

Immigration Status

Keith Vaz: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those who have attended his immigration summits.

Tony Blair: A number of Ministers together with officials attended the immigration summits.
	Internal discussion and advice is exempt from disclosure in line with exemption 2b of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

India

Keith Vaz: To ask the Prime Minister when he next plans to visit India.

Tony Blair: I have no current plans to do so.

Iraq

George Foulkes: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make representations to the United Nations Secretary General calling for an immediate and independent high level UN inquiry into the Iraq Oil for Food Programme arising from the evidence given to the United States Congress.

Tony Blair: On 21 April 2004, the United Nations Secretary-General appointed an independent high-level inquiry to investigate allegations of corruption in the management and administration of the UN's Iraq Oil For Food Programme. Her Majesty's Government fully support the UN inquiry, which was endorsed by the Security Council through its unanimous adoption of resolution 1538 (21 April 2004).

Ministerial Gifts

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister on what date he intends to publish the list of gifts received by Ministers in 2003–04.

Tony Blair: The Government are committed to publishing an annual list of gifts received by Ministers in an official capacity valued at more than £140. Details of gifts received during 2003–04 valued at more than £140 are currently being assembled and will be published before the summer recess.

President Mubarak

David Amess: To ask the Prime Minister when he plans to receive a state visit from President Mubarak.

Tony Blair: I have no current plans to do so.

Tibet

Harry Cohen: To ask the Prime Minister if he will urge Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao to undertake to commute the death sentence against Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche pending a fair and free retrial in the presence of international observers; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I expect to discuss a wide range of issues with Premier Wen Jiabao.
	We and our EU partners have raised concerns about the transparency and conduct of Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche's trial with the Chinese authorities on several occasions and have asked them to confirm that Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche's death sentence will be commuted to life imprisonment.
	We will continue to monitor this case and make representations to the Chinese authorities where appropriate.

Tibet

Harry Cohen: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will seek from Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao an undertaking to drop all pre-conditions to negotiating a settlement on Tibet with representatives of the Dalai Lama; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will make a statement in public on the situation in Tibet during the visit of Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.

Tony Blair: I expect to discuss a wide range of issues with Premier Wen Jiabao during his visit to the UK. The Government have an ongoing dialogue with China over human rights issues and Tibet at both ministerial level and the biannual UK/China Human Rights Dialogue. We welcome the continuing contact between the Chinese authorities and representatives of the Dalai Lama.

Tom Kelly

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister what factors underlay his decision to appoint Mr. Tom Kelly as his chief spokesman; and what qualities Mr. Kelly will bring to his post.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis) at Prime Minister's questions on 28 April 2004, Official Report, column 884–85.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

All-postal Elections

Sue Doughty: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he received (a) the summary report and (b) the full report on the voting and the integrity of the all-postal elections in Merrow, Guildford in May 2003 produced by the Electoral Commission.

Phil Hope: The Government received on 31 July 2003 the Electoral Commission's statutory evaluation report on the all-postal pilot election scheme at the elections held in Guildford on 1 May 2003.

All-postal Elections

Sue Doughty: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the full report on the voting and the integrity of the all postal election in Merrow, Guildford in May 2003 by the Electoral Commission will be published; and in what form it will be published.

Phil Hope: The Electoral Commission published on 31 July 2003 its evaluation report on the all-postal pilot election scheme held in Guildford on 1 May 2003. This was also sent to the local authority on the same date and was placed on the Commission's website.

Coverage Care

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answers of 15 March 2004, Official Report, columns 59–60W, on Coverage Care, what the current arrangements with Coverage Care (Gloucestershire) Ltd. are to which the answer refers; what the various circumstances referred to in the answer were in this case, regarding the provision of financial assistance from local authorities; what discussions havetaken place between his Department and Gloucestershire county council over this matter; what rent arrears Gloucestershire county council has accrued in relation to Coverage Care (Gloucestershire) Ltd.; and whether the Government has asked the District Auditor to investigate the matter.

Yvette Cooper: The circumstances are set out in detail in the general consents. Of particular relevance are "The General Consent under Section 25 of the Local Government Act 1988 for Small Amounts of Assistance 1999" and "The General Consent under Section 25 of the Local Government Act 1988 for Disposal of Residential Care Homes 1999".
	In preparing for the possibility of a specific consent being sought from the First Secretary of State, the county council has explained the nature of possible proposals to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. However, information about the current arrangements with Coverage Care (Gloucestershire) Ltd.; details of proposals; and rent arrears accrued by Gloucestershire county council has resolved that information relating to the business affairs of the company should remain confidential. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not asked the District Auditor to investigate the matter.

Fuel Poverty

Harold Best: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will upgrade the existing decent homes standard for all social sector housing to address fuel poverty.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not intend to change the standard. To meet the decent homes standard, a home must have efficient heating as well as effective insulation. We are confident that the decent homes target will deliver significant improvements to the energy efficiency of the social housing stock taking many households out of fuel poverty .
	Delivery of the decent homes target will improve the heating and/or insulation of 1.3 million homes owned by local authorities and housing associations.

Homelessness

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list, for each housing authority, for the years (a) 1997, (b) 2000 and (c) 2003 the number of (i) adult homeless people, (ii) child homeless and (iii) residents in bed and breakfast accommodation.

Yvette Cooper: Available information, as reported by local authorities in England, has been made available in   the Library of the House. Data collected on homelessness is in respect of households, rather than persons, although broad estimates of the number of dependent children within households accepted as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in "priority need" can be derived from the information supplied by local authorities. Snapshot information about numbers of households in various forms of   temporary accommodation, including bed and breakfast style accommodation, represents the position on the last day of each quarter.

Homelessness

Sally Keeble: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many homeless families there were, broken down by region, for (a) the last quarter of 2003 and (b) the first quarter of 2004.

Yvette Cooper: Information on homelessness collected by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is in respect of households, rather than families. Thenumber of households accepted as eligible, unintentionally homeless where the main category of priority need was the presence of dependent children, or an expectant mother, is however available. The following table shows the number of homeless household acceptances by local authorities, by region, along with information on those with dependent children or an expectant mother, for the fourth quarter of 2003. Estimates for the first quarter of 2004 will be published on 16 June.
	
		Homeless households accepted by local authoritiesFourth quarter October—December 2003
		
			   of which main priority need category reported as: 
			  Total households accepted 1 Dependent Children Expectant Mother(26) 
		
		
			 North East 2,050 970 190 
			 North West 4,240 2,220 320 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 3,800 1,670 300 
			 East Midlands 2,330 1,220 250 
			 West Midlands 3,540 1,960 370 
			 East of England 2,660 1,230 330 
			 London 7,250 3,700 880 
			 South East 3,610 1,720 470 
			 South West 2,630 1,190 320 
			 England 32,100 15,880 3,410 
		
	
	Notes:
	(25) Applicants accepted as eligible, unintentionally homeless and in priority need.
	(26) Household containing an expectant mother, but with no dependent children
	Source:
	ODPM quarterly P1E homelessness returns.

Housing

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on how the Starter Homes Initiative has affected the residents of Preston.

Neil Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how the Starter Homes Initiative has benefited the residents of Wigan.

Joe Benton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on how the Starter Homes Initiative has affected the residents of Bootle.

Keith Hill: Between September 2001 and 31 March 2004, the Starter Home Initiative helped key workers into home ownership in London, the south east, eastern and south west regions. A small scheme also operated in Warwickshire. The programme did not operate outside these areas.

Isle of Wight Projects

Andrew Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list, for each of the financial years ending in March (a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002, each project on the Isle of Wight funded by the (i) South East England Development Agency and (ii) the single Regeneration Budget showing the (A) funding for each project, (B) intended outcomes of each project and (C) actual outcomes of each project.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the letter sent by my right. hon. Friend the Member for Greenwich and Woolwich, on 27 April 2004. A copy of this letter has been made available in the library of the House.
	I will write to the hon. Member with regards to the information requested on the intended outcomes for each project as soon as the information is collated. A copy of the letter will also be made available in the library of the House.

New Deal for Communities

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the administration budget was for each New Deal for Communities partnership for each financial year since 1999–2000; and what the estimated administration budget for each such partnership is for financial years (i) 2004–2005 and (ii) 2005–06.

Yvette Cooper: pursuant to my reply, 11 March 2004, Official Report, c. 638–39W
	My earlier answer gave a figure of £9.655 million management and administration expenditure for Rochdale NDC. This figure includes all revenue expenditure. The correct figure is £2.413 million. The attached table includes the corrected figure and much smaller corrections for Newham, New Cross, Brighton and Derby NDCs. Figures for other NDCs remain the same. The New Deal for Communities Programme has 39 NDC Partnerships and £2 billion has been committed to them over the 10 years of the NDC Programme. The 17 Round 1 Partnerships entered their delivery phase in 2000–01 and the 22 Round 2 Partnerships entered their delivery phase in 2000–02.
	The NDC Partnerships went through two phases before they entered their delivery phase. Phase 1 involved building up a partnership, phase 2 involved developing a delivery plan for the 10 years of the programme and, where possible, developing "quick win" projects. During Phase 1 and Phase 2 we would expect Management and Administration to be high as the partnerships were in the initial stages of setting up and building a partnerships.
	Overall, partnerships may only spend up to 10 per cent. of their 10-year budget total on Management and Administration during the year life of their programme. Profiles vary, and some partnerships have spent more that 10 per cent. per annum on Management and Administration so far. However, we do not expect management and administration to exceed 10 per cent. of total spend by the time each partnership reaches its final year.
	
		Management and Administration Budget
		
			  1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 1 2005–06 1 
		
		
			 Partnership
			 Newham 332,786 490,000 515,000 480,000 635,200 600,000 650,000 
			 Shoreditch 400,000 340,000 340,000 340,000 590,000 540,000 540,000 
			 Aylesbury 400,000 168,750 304,800 383,212 688,370 679,800 497,100 
			 Ocean 400,000 599,000 680,000 680,000 670,000 620,000 620,000 
			 South Kilburn 0 240,000 335,000 496,000 496,000 696,000 696,000 
			 North Fulham 0 299,500 380,000 520,000 500,000 528,472 520,000 
			 EC1 Islington 0 400,000 450,000 670,000 500,000 500,000 518,000 
			 Clapham Park 0 400,000 450,000 584,000 563,800 563,154 639,000 
			 New Cross 0 427,670 227,670 482,119 632,000 500,000 501,497 
			 Seven Sisters 0 208,000 612,000 635,000 553,000 550,000 550,000 
			 Brighton 330,350 628,075 770,925 652,059 437,451 543,991 572,532 
			 Southampton 10,000 387,000 362,000 385,850 450,000 600,000 480,000 
			 Plymouth 10,000 40,000 225,610 461,957 424,000 380,000 Not yet agreed 
			 Bristol 320,000 450,000 500,000 518,000 533,000 590,000 540,000 
			 Luton 0 0 375,000 600,000 500,900 440,000 Not yet agreed 
			 Norwich 0 395,900 425,900 425,900 450,000 475,000 450,000 
			 Leicester 198,000 542,000 985,000 800,000 692,000 620,000 600,000 
			 Nottingham 200,000 299,000 360,000 482,000 520,000 500,000 500,000 
			 Derby 10,000 302,000 299,310 428,200 500,000 531,050 880,540 
			 Sandwell 400,000 546,968 599,437 500,000 500,000 500,000 500,000 
			 Walsall 0 223,000 250,000 465,000 450,000 455,000 260,000 
			 Coventry 0 260,000 385,002 519,021 555,000 555,000 550,000 
			 Wolverhampton 0 255,000 173,844 435,526 577,076 594,000 612,000 
			 Kings Norton 300,000 262,452 301,692 237,189 526,941 735,428 507,582 
			 Aston 0 235,000 116,500 520,000 520,000 535,000 550,000 
			 Doncaster 0 0 344,478 453,344 426,352 440,000 450,000 
			 Sheffield 0 0 680,000 680,000 506,587 506,587 506,587 
			 Bradford 0 314,000 460,600 514,700 502,200 500,000 500,000 
			 Hull 0 731,000 791,360 577,190 500,000 500,000 450,000 
			 Knowsley 0 0 306,969 524,627 504,820 780,611 1,168,580 
			 Kensington(27) 0 479,619 574,097 619,000 650,000 670,306 800,000 
			 Manchester 204,153 605,878 622,366 642,568 650,000 600,000 500,000 
			 Oldham 0 0 151,324 254,196 360,700 405,000 409,000 
			 Salford 0 0 204,571 289,997 740,000 740,000 740,000 
			 Rochdale 0 0 280,000 393,000 540,000 600,000 600,000 
			 Hartlepool 0 339,965 258,000 461,355 690,000 690,040 691,880 
			 Newcastle 350,000 200,000 388,000 650,000 670,000 600,000 575,000 
			 Middlesbrough 350,000 251,400 420,830 300,000 477,000 588,000 543,000 
			 Sunderland 0 300,000 305,000 397,000 839,000 400,000 500,000 
			 Total 4,215,289 11,621,177 16,211,655 19,458,010 21,521,397 21,792,439 21,168,298 
		
	
	(27) Please note that figures given for 2004–05 and 2005–06 are estimates and some are not yet agreed

Parish Councils

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much the Standards Board for England has spent on investigations with regard to parish councils; and how much money was involved in the complaints and issues that led to such investigations.

Phil Hope: The Standards Board for England does not record this information.

Parish Councils

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his Department directs the Standards Board for England to consider the benefit to the public interest when (a) determining whether to pursue investigations against parish councillors and (b) pursuing those investigations.

Phil Hope: When considering allegations of misconduct, the Standards Board for England operates within the statutory framework of the Local Government Act 2000 and related Regulations. In considering whether to refer an allegation for investigation, the Board considers whether the allegation is serious enough to justify a referral for investigation, and if a national or local investigation would be justified. The purpose of an investigation, carried out by an ethical standards officer, appointed by the Standards Board, is to make a finding as to whether or not the code of conduct for members has been breached and what further action if any needs to be taken. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not have powers to intervene in particular cases and does not do so.

Recycling

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of copying paper used by the Department in 2002–03 was from recycled sources; and   how much post-consumer waste this paper contained.

Phil Hope: The UK Sustainable Development in Government Second Annual report shows that in the year ended 31 March 2003 recycled paper accounted for 87 per cent. of desk top paper purchased by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. The post-consumer waste element of that recycled paper was 80 per cent. or more.

Recycling

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of paper for printed publications used by the Department in 2002–03 was from recycled sources; and how much post-consumer waste this paper contained.

Phil Hope: The UK Sustainable Development in Government Second Annual report shows that in the year ended 31 March 2003 recycled paper accounted for 99 per cent. of paper for printed publications purchased by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. The post-consumer waste element of that recycled paper was 75 per cent. or more.

Recycling

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what measures he has put in place to ensure that his Department meets the quick win targets set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that all copying paper bought by the Department is 100 per cent. recycled with a minimum of 75 per cent. post-consumer waste content.

Phil Hope: Procurement units in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister have been made aware of the quick win target for the purchase of copying paper. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister monitors its performance for the purpose of reporting progress in the   annual Sustainable Development in Government report.
	In addition the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has recently introduced an electronic ordering tool and this is to be configured to prevent the ordering of non-recycled paper by withdrawing non-compliant paper from the contracted suppliers' catalogues available to local purchasing officers.

Recycling

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what measures he has put in place to ensure that his Department meets the quick win targets set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that all paper for printed publications bought by the Department is 60 per cent. recycled of which a minimum is 75 per cent. post-consumer waste.

Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Greening Operation Policy statement requires the use of compliant recycled paper and procurement units in the Office have been made aware of the quick win target for the purchase of paper for printed publications. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister monitors its performance for the purpose of reporting progress in the   annual Sustainable Development in Government report.

Recycling

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister by what date his Department expects to reach the quick win targets set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that (a) all copying paper bought by the Department is 100 per cent. recycled with a minimum of 75 per cent. post consumer waste content and (b) all paper for printed publications bought by the Department is 60 per cent. recycled, of which a minimum is 75 per cent. post-consumer waste.

Phil Hope: The Sustainable Development in Government Report shows that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister met the quick win target for (a) copying paper and (b) for printed publications purchased in 2002–03. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects that all of its copying paper and virtually 100 per cent. its printed paper procurement will be "Quick Win" compliant by end of 2005–06.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will strive to attain 100 per cent., but at present some printing processes presently preclude the use of Quick Win specification paper. Should this situation change, "Quick Win" compliant paper will be used.

Recycling

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the Department's main suppliers of (a) copier paper, (b) stationery, (c) envelopes and (d) paper for reports; what the name is of the paper used in each case; and what the (i) recycled and (ii) post-consumer recycle content of the paper is in each case.

Phil Hope: The details requested are as follows:
	(a) Copier Paper—Evolve Business, supplied by Banner, contains 100 per cent. post-consumer waste.
	(b) Stationery—Repeat Offset, supplied by the James McNaughton Paper Group, contains 100 per cent. post-consumer waste.
	(c) Envelopes—Conservation and Croxley Heritage, supplied through the Government's Stationery Contract (Taurus Print & Design), contains 100 per cent. post-consumer waste.
	(d) Paper for Reports—Revive, Revert and Evolution ranges, containing 75 per cent. post-consumer waste and 25 per cent. Elemental Chlorine Free pulp, Greencoat range, containing 80 per cent. post-consumer waste and 20 per cent. Totally Chlorine Free pulp, and Evolve Business, containing 100 per cent. post-consumer waste, all supplied by Robert Home Paper Company, Premier Paper Ltd., Howard Smith Paper and James McNaughton Paper Group through the Government's Paper Framework Contract.

Vacant/Derelict Land

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much previously developed land was (a) vacant and (b) derelict in England in each year since 1997.

Keith Hill: The available estimates are from the National Land Use Database of Previously Developed Land surveys of 1998, 2001 and 2002:
	
		Previously developed land in England
		
			  Vacant Derelict hectares 
		
		
			 1998 19,170 19,340 
			 2001 19,720 21,410 
			 2002 20,750 19,960 
		
	
	Results for 2003 will be published in the summer.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Autism

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on provision for those with autism in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: Provision for people with autism is the responsibility of a number of Government Departments and statutory bodies and a wide range of provision is available to help and support sufferers and their families.
	The Department of Education has taken a proactive stance in supporting positive interventions for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and has allocated funding for ASD training for people in the range of pre-school settings and for the establishment of an Interboard ASD Training Group, which will develop training needs and support measures in this area. It is   also planning the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in the education of children with ASD on an all Ireland basis. Complementary parent and teacher videos and CD-ROMs, along with guidance material on autism have been produced and an "ASD Guide to Classroom Practice" has been issued to all schools as an aid to teachers and classroom assistants.
	Health and Social Services Boards provide a range of mainstream and specialist healthcare services for children and adults with autism, including diagnostic and assessment services, family support services, respite services, day care services, befriending schemes, mental health services, learning disability services, training for parents and staff and collaboration with specialist voluntary organisations such as PAPA (Parents and Professionals and Autism) and PEAT (Parents' Education as Autism Therapists). The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety's Priorities for Action 2004–05 includes action to enhance diagnostic, assessment and early intervention services for children with autism. An additional £0.5 million has been allocated for this purpose.
	Other assistance is available through the Disablement Advisory Service and Jobskills programme of the Department of Employment and Learning and through Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance provided by the Social Security Agency.

Autism

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were diagnosed as autistic in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Angela Smith: The information requested is not available.

Core Gateway Costs

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much Core Gateway costs are for a two-week course at the East Antrim Institute in Northern Ireland.

Barry Gardiner: The Core Gateway cost for a two-week course at East Antrim Institute in Northern Ireland is £400 per participant. This is in line with payments made to all Providers of Core Gateway based on a rate of £40 per day for full attendance.

Inward Investment

David Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many jobs were created (a) by inward investment projects and (b) through business associated with agreed inward investment projects, for each year from 1998 and expressed as a percentage of the figure for the UK as a whole.

Barry Gardiner: The information is as follows:
	(a) Table 1 details the number of jobs created by inward investment projects assisted during the five year period commencing 1995–96. While the question asks for each year from 1998, it should be recognised that since assisted projects take some time to reach maturity, it has not been practice to produce job creation figures until four years subsequent to the offers of assistance being made. Therefore, this answer covers only two of the years requested but has been expanded to include the previous three years.
	
		Table 1: Job Creation by Inward Investors
		
			 Financial Year Job creation up to March 2003 
		
		
			 1999–2000 5,284 
			 1998–99 2,856 
			 1997–98 4,187 
			 1996–97 4,426 
			 1995–96 2,979 
			 Total 19,732 
		
	
	To provide a more up to date picture of inward investment activity Table 2 presents the number of jobs promoted by inward investment projects during the five year period from 1998–99.
	
		Table 2: Jobs Promoted By Inward Investors
		
			 Financial Year Jobs Promoted 
		
		
			 2002–03 1,033 
			 2001–02 2,526 
			 2000–01 5,506 
			 1999–2000 6,584 
			 1998–99 4,162 
			 Grand Total 19,811 
		
	
	Previous evidence provided by the Industrial Development Board (IDE) to the Northern Ireland Audit Office showed that approximately 70 per cent. of jobs promoted were created and a similar proportion of grant offered was actually paid.
	(b) No estimates are available concerning the secondary impacts associated with inward investment projects.
	At present Invest NI has no statistically robust method of producing comparative figures regarding job promotion/creation figures achieved by the UK as a whole. Invest NI intends over the coming year to engage with UK Trade and Investment to develop an approach which will enable such comparisons to be made on a consistent basis. Nevertheless, Invest NI, and previously the IDB has indicative evidence to suggest that Northern Ireland's share of new contestable UK Foreign Direct Investment from the manufacturing and international tradeable service industry sectors is in the region of 10 per cent.

Legal Aid

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people (a) applied for and (b) received legal aid in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and how many people had an application rejected.

David Lammy: I have been asked to reply.
	The Legal Services Commission records the number of applications for assistance rather than the number of clients assisted. The following table sets out details of legal aid applications for the period 1998–99 to 2002–03.
	
		
			  Legal advice and assistance (LAA) Advice by way of representation (ABWOR) Children Order Civil Criminal 
			  Claims Applications Applications Applications Applications 
		
		
			 1998–99  
			 Received 57,969 5,633 5,506 15,813 19,729 
			 Granted  5,121 4,600 6,713 19,190 
			 Refused  79 71 2,358 539 
			   
			 1999–2000 
			 Received 45,292 5,798 5,198 14,109 20,063 
			 Granted  5,285 4,950 12,586 19,394 
			 Refused  408 244 4,439 669 
			   
			 2000–01 
			 Received 46,656 5,622 5,133 14,097 19,344 
			 Granted  5,157 4,824 11,480 18,681 
			 Refused  177 123 2,847 663 
			   
			 2001–02 
			 Received 41,949 5,797 5,708 14,997 17,820 
			 Granted  5,440 5,403 9,011 17,303 
			 Refused  235 181 2038 517 
			  
			 2002–03 
			 Received 55,292 5,745 5,999 13,569 21,732 
			 Granted  5,351 5,656 11,102 20,941 
			 Refused  316 252 3,167 791

Legal Aid

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total cost of legal aid was in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

David Lammy: I have been asked to reply.
	The following table sets out the total cost of legal aid in Northern Ireland from 1998–99 to 2002–03:
	
		£ million
		
			  Criminal Civil Sub total Administration Total 
		
		
			 1998–99 15.93 14.16 30.09 2.58 32.67 
			 1999–2000 23.25 11.40 34.65 2.69 37.34 
			 2000–01 21.88 15.82 37.70 2.87 40.57 
			 2001–02 24.57 16.96 41.53 3.26 44.79 
			 2002–03 26.77 18.21 44.98 3.58 48.56

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the change in the incidence of sexually transmitted infections was in each year since 2000 in each of the health and social services board areas in   Northern Ireland, broken down by (a) age and (b) sex.

Angela Smith: Information is not available on incidence of sexually transmitted infections in Northern Ireland, as not all persons with such infections are in contact with the health service. Information is, however, available on the number of initial contacts with Genito-Urinary Medicine clinics each year, in respect of persons with various sexually transmitted infections. This information which is shown for the financial years ending March 2000, March 2001, March 2002 and March 2003, together with the percentage change between each year, has been placed in the Library.

WORK AND PENSIONS

BT Business Rates

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work   and Pensions if he will place in the Library correspondence between his Department and the European Commission regarding the European Commission's preliminary investigations into the alleged undeserved subsidisation of BT's business rates by the Valuation Office Agency, including his Department's response.

Jacqui Smith: I have been asked to reply.
	This correspondence contains commercially confidential material which it would be inappropriate for the Government to make public. This is covered by exemption 13 Third Party Commercial Confidences of   the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Child Support Agency

John Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects a resolution to Child Support Agency computer problems deriving from running two concurrent systems.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. John Taylor, dated 29 April 2004
	In replying to your recent Parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he expects a resolution to Child Support Agency computer problems deriving from running two concurrent systems.
	I have been working closely with EDS to resolve the issues on the new computer system. We are currently working on a remediation plan, which has yet to be validated and agreed. The old scheme cases will be converted to the new scheme when Ministers are confident that it is working well. I will continue to monitor this carefully and make regular reports to the Secretary of State on progress. As you are aware, reports have been made available in the House of Commons library on 16 July, 18 November 2003, 12 February and 21 April 2004.

Council Tax

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate, based on his Department's policy simulation model for 2004–05, for (a) all households, (b) all pensioner households, (c) all households headed by a pensioner over 70 and (d) all households headed by a pensioner aged 70 or above, the average level of (i) gross council tax and (ii) council tax net of rebates expressed as a percentage of household income.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is in the table. Estimates are modelled using the DWP Policy Simulation Model for 2004–05. This model is based on 2001–02 Family Resources Survey data, uprated to 2004–05 prices, benefit rates and earnings levels. It is then grossed up to forecast population totals for that year. The following table shows the information requested.
	
		Percentage
		
			  Average gross council tax as a percentage of household income Average council tax net of rebates as a percentage of household income 
		
		
			 All households 4 3 
			 All pensioner households 5 3 
			 All households headed by a pensioner   aged over 70 6 3 
			 All households headed by a pensioner   aged 70 or over 6 3 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Gross council tax figures are net of any discounts.
	2. Household income is net of income tax and national insurance contributions, and is unequivalised.
	3. Estimates assume 100 per cent. take up of council tax benefit.

Disabled Workers

Neil Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the measures introduced to improve the working conditions of disabled workers in Wigan over the last seven years.

Maria Eagle: We have a number of measures in place nationally to help improve conditions for disabled people at work, as well as measures to improve their access to services generally. None of these are specific to Wigan, but all are available to disabled people who live and work there.
	From 1996, the employment provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act required most employers of 20 or more staff not to discriminate against, and to make reasonable adjustments for, disabled job applicants or employees; in December 1998, we reduced this threshold to 15 employees. From October this year, the small employer exemption will be removed and most currently excluded occupations, such as police officers, firefighters, and partners in business partnerships will be brought within the scope of the Disability Discrimination Act employment provisions.
	Jobcentre Plus runs a number of specialist programmes providing help for disabled people, including New Deal for Disabled People, Workstep, Access to Work, the Job Introduction Scheme, and Work Preparation. All these programmes provide practical advice and support to disabled people and their employers to help overcome work related obstacles resulting from disability. Since 1997–98 there have been year on year increases in both numbers helped and programme spend.
	To help people access appropriate help, Jobcentre Plus has established a network of Disability Service Teams. The teams are made up of Disability Employment Advisors, Access to Work Advisers and Occupational Psychologists; their services are accessed through local Jobcentres.
	Since April 2003, disabled people in work have been receiving financial support through the working tax credit. This is available if a person is working an average of at least 16 hours per week (self-employed or for an employer); and have a disability which puts them at a disadvantage in getting a job. 70,000 families (including over 32,000 adults without children) are benefiting from the disability element within the working tax credit, compared to 38,000 who benefited from the old disabled person's tax credit.

Disabled Workers

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the measures introduced to improve the working conditions of disabled workers in Preston over the last seven years.

Maria Eagle: We have a number of measures in place nationally to help improve conditions for disabled people at work, as well as measures to improve their access to services generally. None of these are specific to Preston, but all are available to disabled people who live and work there.
	From 1996, the employment provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act required most employers of 20 or more staff not to discriminate against, and to make reasonable adjustments for, disabled job applicants or employees; in December 1998, we reduced this threshold to 15 employees. From October this year, the small employer exemption will be removed and most currently excluded occupations, such as police officers, firefighters, and partners in business partnerships will be brought within the scope of the Disability Discrimination Act employment provisions.Jobcentre Plus runs a number of specialist programmes providing help for disabled people, including New Deal for Disabled People, Workstep, Access to Work, the Job Introduction Scheme, and Work Preparation. All these programmes provide practical advice and support to disabled people and their employers to help overcome work related obstacles resulting from disability. Since 1997–98 there have been year on year increases in both numbers helped and programme spend.
	To help people access appropriate help, Jobcentre Plus has established a network of Disability Service Teams. The teams are made up of Disability Employment Advisors, Access to Work Advisers and Occupational Psychologists; their services are accessed through local Jobcentres.
	Since April 2003, disabled people in work have been receiving financial support through the working tax credit. This is available if a person is working an average of at least 16 hours per week (self-employed or for an employer); and have a disability which puts them at a disadvantage in getting a job. 70,000 families (including over 32,000 adults without children) are benefiting from the disability element within the working tax credit, compared to 38,000 who benefited from the old disabled person's tax credit.

Failed Pension Schemes

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 21 April 2004, Official Report, column 293, how many people whose pension schemes have been wound up have found that the money that they invested yielded nothing.

Malcolm Wicks: Information is not available on the number of people whose pension schemes have wound up with no, or insufficient, funds to meet their expected pensions. We are currently exploring with pension scheme trustees and other industry representatives the basis on which we can establish firm estimates of the extent of the problem of defined benefit schemes winding-up under funded, the numbers affected and the potential scale of losses

New Deal

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many women in Burnley have benefited from the (a) New Deal for Lone Parents and (b) New Deal for Partners since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Through the New Deal we have introduced a wide range of initiatives to help individuals improve their employment prospects by giving them the skills, support and confidence they need to move into work. From 12 April we enhanced the New Deal for Partners in order to offer partners taking part in that programme the same level of help and support as our successful New Deal for Lone Parents programme. Also from this April we have started to roll out Work Focused Interviews for Partners, offering greater support to partners of benefit recipients.
	870 women have started New Deal for Lone Parents in Burnley since the beginning of the programme in October 1998, of whom, 550 have gained a job. Information on the number of women who have benefited from the New Deal for Partners is not available at constituency level.

New Deal

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in the Vale of Clwyd constituency have benefited from (a) New Deal for Young People, (b) New Deal for 25-plus and (c) New Deal for Lone Parents in each ward in the Vale of Clwyd.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not available at ward level. The available information for the Vale of Clwyd constituency is in the table.
	
		Number of individuals who have benefited from New Deal for Young People, New Deal 25-plus and New Deal for Lone Parents to the end of December 2003
		
			 Programme Individual starts Individuals into work 
		
		
			 New Deal for Young People 1,110 690 
			 New Deal 25-plus 270 80 
			 New Deal for Lone Parents 1,130 560 
		
	
	Note:
	Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	New Deal Evaluation Database.

New Deal

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many lone parents in Burnley have gained work through the New Deal programme.

Jane Kennedy: 590 lone parents in Burnley have gained work through the New Deal for Lone Parents since the start of the programme in October 1998.
	Information on the number of women who have gained work through the other New Deal programmes is not available at constituency level.

New Deal

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many lone parents in Heywood and Middleton have gained work through the New Deal programme.

Jane Kennedy: 730 lone parents in Heywood and Middleton have gained work through the New Deal for Lone Parents since the start of the programme in October 1998.
	Information on the number of women who have gained work through the other New Deal programmes are not available at constituency level.

New Deal

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many women in Heywood and Middleton have benefited from (a) the New Deal for Lone Parents and (b) the New Deal for Partners since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Through the New Deal we have introduced a wide range of initiatives to help individuals improve their employment prospects by giving them the skills, support and confidence they need to move into work. From 12 April we enhanced the New Deal for Partners in order to offer partners taking part in that programme the same level of help and support as our successful New Deal for Lone Parents programme. Also from this April we have started to roll out Work Focused Interviews for Partners, offering greater support to partners of benefit recipients.
	1,080 women have started New Deal for Lone Parents in Heywood and Middleton since the beginning of the programme in October 1998, of whom, 690 have gained a job. Information on the number of women who have benefited from the New Deal for Partners is not available at constituency level.

New Deal

James Purnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many lone parents have gained work through the New Deal programme.

Jane Kennedy: 247,310 lone parents have gained work though the New Deal for Lone Parents since the introduction of the programme in October 1998. Lone parents may have gained work through other New Deal programmes but cannot be identified separately.
	Information on the number of women who have gained work through the other New Deal programmes are not available at constituency level.

New Deal

Neil Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for   Work and Pensions how many lone parents in Wigan have gained work through the New Deal programme.

Jane Kennedy: 460 lone parents in Wigan have gained work through the New Deal for Lone Parents since the start of the programme in October 1998.
	Information on the number of women who have gained work through the other New Deal programmes is not available at constituency level.

New Deal

Neil Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many women in Wigan have benefited from (a) the New Deal for Lone Parents and (b) the New Deal for Partners since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Through the New Deal we have introduced a wide range of initiatives to help individuals improve their employment prospects by giving them the skills, support and confidence they need to move into work. From 12 April we enhanced the New Deal for Partners in order to offer partners taking part in that programme the same level of help and support as our successful New Deal for Lone Parents programme. Also from this April we have started to roll out Work Focused Interviews for Partners, offering greater support to partners of benefit recipients.
	710 women have started New Deal for Lone Parents in Wigan since the beginning of the programme in October 1998, of whom, 430 have gained a job. Information on the number of women who have benefited from the New Deal for Partners is not available at constituency level.

New Deal

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many women in Preston have benefited from (a) the New Deal for Lone Parents and (b) the New Deal for Partners since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Through the New Deal we have introduced a wide range of initiatives to help individuals improve their employment prospects by giving them the skills, support and confidence they need to move into work. From 12 April we enhanced the New Deal for Partners in order to offer partners taking part in that programme the same level of help and support as our successful New Deal for Lone Parents programme. Also from this April we have started to roll out Work Focused Interviews for Partners, offering greater support to partners of benefit recipients.
	890 women have started New Deal for Lone Parents in Preston since the beginning of the programme in October 1998, of whom, 500 have gained a job. Information on the number of women who have benefited from the New Deal for Partners is not available at constituency level.

New Deal

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many lone parents in Preston have gained work through the New Deal programme.

Jane Kennedy: 530 lone parents in Preston have gained work through the New Deal for Lone Parents since the start of the programme in October 1998.
	Information on the number of women who have gained work through the other New Deal programmes is not available at constituency level.

New Deal

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many women in Manchester, Gorton have benefited from the (a) New Deal for Lone Parents and (b) New Deal for Partners since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Through the New Deal we have introduced a wide range of initiatives to help individuals improve their employment prospects by giving them the skills, support and confidence they need to move into work. From 12 April we enhanced the New Deal for Partners in order to offer partners taking part in that programme the same level of help and support as our successful New Deal for Lone Parents programme. Also from this April we have started to roll out Work Focused Interviews for Partners, offering greater support to partners of benefit recipients.
	930 women have started New Deal for Lone Parents in Manchester, Gorton since the beginning of the programme in October 1998, of whom, 450 have gained a job. Information on the number of women who have benefited from the New Deal for Partners is not available at constituency level.

New Deal

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many lone parents in Manchester, Gorton have gained work through the New Deal programme.

Jane Kennedy: 480 lone parents in Manchester, Gorton have gained work through the New Deal for Lone Parents since the start of the programme in October 1998.
	Information on the number of women who have gained work through the other New Deal programmes is not available at constituency level.

Pension Credit

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many recipients of pension credit are receiving (a) less than 10p per week, (b) 10p to 19p per week, (c) 20p to 29p per week, (d) 30p to 39p per week, (e) 40p to 49p per week, (f) 50p to 59p per week, (g) 60p to 69p per week, (h) 70p to 79p per week, (i) 80p to 89p per week and (j) 90p to 99p per week.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is given in the table. An award of pension credit of less than 10p per week is not payable unless the person is receiving another benefit payable with pension credit.
	
		Pension credit awards of less than £1 as at 31March 2004
		
			 Amount Number of awards 
		
		
			 Less than 10p 1,360 
			 10p to19p 1,107 
			 20p to 29p 1,156 
			 20p to 39p 1,152 
			 40p to 49p 1,241 
			 50p to 59p 1,271 
			 60p to 69p 1,355 
			 70p to 79p 1,302 
			 80p to 89p 1,419 
			 90p to 99p 1,428 
			 Total 12,791

State Second Pension

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate (a) the gross cost, (b) the saving in expenditure on the state second pension, (c) the saving in expenditure on pension credit, (d) the saving in expenditure on other means-tested benefits, (e) the additional revenue from income tax and (f) the net cost to the Exchequer, of paying a full basic state pension to all individuals aged 65 or over from April 2006 onwards at the rate of the guarantee credit, regardless of contribution record, and subsequently indexed to average earnings, combined with the abolition from that date of all new accruals to the state second pension and the abolition of all payments of savings credit, including those to existing recipients for each of the 10 financial years from 2006–07.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 22 April 2004
	The information is not available in the format requested. However, such information as is available is in the following table:
	
		£ billion
		
			  (a) Gross Cost (b) S2P Saving (c) PC Saving (d) IRB Saving (f) Net Cost 
		
		
			 2006–07 19.4 0 3.1 1.6 14.8 
			 2007–08 20.7 0 3.3 1.7 15.8 
			 2008–09 22.1 0.1 3.5 1.8 16.7 
			 2009–10 23.5 0.1 3.7 1.9 17.8 
			 2010–11 25.0 0.2 3.9 2.0 18.8 
			 2011–12 26.6 0.3 4.1 2.1 20.1 
			 2012–13 28.6 0.4 4.3 2.3 21.6 
			 2013–14 30.5 0.6 4.6 2.4 23.0 
			 2014–15 32.4 0.7 4.8 2.6 24.3 
			 2015–16 34.2 0.9 5.0 2.7 25.6 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are for Great Britain in 2004–05 price terms using the GDP deflator index rounded to the nearest £100 million.
	2. Gross costs are estimated by the Government Actuary's Department and are consistent with Budget 2004 assumptions and use 2002 based population projections. Gross costs refer to the additional costs after allowing for National Insurance Fund benefits and non-means tested vote benefits.
	3. The net cost includes all savings except for additional income tax revenue, see note 4.
	4. Additional income tax revenue is estimated by the Inland Revenue using 2006 tax rates. We are unable to publish any income tax forecast estimates for years beyond that which is published in the Financial Statement and Budget Report (currently 2006–07). The income tax estimate for 2006–07 is based on the 2001–02 Survey of Personal Incomes and is projected in line with March 2004 Budget assumptions. The income tax revenue in 2006–07 is £5.4 billion, resulting in a total net cost of £9.4 billion. For illustrative purposes, Inland Revenue assumed income tax revenue to be a fixed percentage of the gross cost for this option in 2007–08 and 2008–09. Therefore, the total net cost in 2007–08 is £10 billion and in 2008–09 is £10.5 billion. Estimates for later years would be subject to a greater degree of uncertainty.
	5. The savings from abolishing future accruals to the state second pension are also calculated by the Government Actuary's Department, they include state pension, additional pension and widows benefit additional pension and are consistent with the long term Public Expenditure Survey forecasts. As earnings in the year of reaching state pension age do not count towards an individual's S2P, the first savings occur in 2007–08. No allowance has been made for changes to contracting out rules.
	6. The savings credit is assumed to be abolished from April 2006 with no payments to existing pensioners and no new recipients after 2006. Figures are based on the illustrative long-term projections of benefit expenditure underlying Annex A of the Budget report.
	7. The savings from other income related benefits (housing benefit and council tax benefit) are calculated using the Department's policy simulation model and April 2004 benefit rates. Consistent with previous answers the offset for the first year is held constant for subsequent years. In addition the increase in housing benefit and council tax benefit personal allowance for people aged 65 and over by the maximum savings credit amount, introduced alongside savings credit and included in forecast expenditure, has been accounted for, with the costing including the effect of removing this increase.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Legal Aid

Bob Spink: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many solicitors provided legal aid in each legal aid area (a) in 1997 and (b) at the latest time for which figures are available.

David Lammy: The Legal Services Commission can provide figures for 1997–98 on the number of solicitors' offices paid for legal aid work in Family, Non-family and Crime but cannot provide any further breakdown by category. Some offices practiced more than one area of legal aid, therefore the total offices paid does not equal the sum of the breakdown. These figures are in the following table A.
	In January 2000 the Legal Services Commission introduced a system of contracting. A breakdown of the number of solicitors' offices with contracts as at April 2004 is provided in the following table B. Some offices hold a contract in more than one category of law, therefore, the total offices with civil contracts does not equal the sum of the breakdown.
	
		Table A
		
			 Category of law Solicitors' offices paid in 1997–98 
		
		
			 Family 9,082 
			 Non-family 9,497 
			 Crime 7,304 
			 Total solicitors' offices paid 10,601 
		
	
	
		Table B
		
			 Category of law Solicitors' offices with contracts as at April 2004 
		
		
			 Actions against the police 75 
			 Clinical negligence 288 
			 Community care 57 
			 Consumer 45 
			 Debt 158 
			 Education 47 
			 Employment 163 
			 Family 3,072 
			 Housing 450 
			 Immigration: asylum 380 
			 Immigration: non-asylum 376 
			 Mental health 297 
			 Personal injury 1,079 
			 Public law 40 
			 Tolerance 2,098 
			 Welfare benefits 186 
			 Solicitors' offices with Controlled Work Contracts 3,701 
			 Additional Licence Only Contracts 213 
			 Total solicitors' offices with General Civil   Contracts 3,914 
			 The number of solicitors' offices with criminal   contracts as at 31 March 2004 2,750

Legal Aid

Bob Spink: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what proportion of the legal aid budget was spent on asylum and immigration cases in each of the last five years.

David Lammy: The proportion of the legal aid budget spent on immigration and asylum in each of the last five years was as follows:
	
		Percentage
		
			  Proportion 
		
		
			 1998–99 3.2 
			 1999–2000 3.9 
			 2000–01 4.8 
			 2001–02 7.4 
			 2002–03 9.2 
		
	
	Figures for 2003–04 are not yet available.

Social Security Commissioners

Hywel Williams: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  what the average waiting time from application to hearing for   cases before the Social Security Commissioners wasin the last three years in (a) Wales and (b) England;
	(2)  what the average waiting time from application to   hearing for cases before the Social Security Commissioners was in each of the last three years for cases heard (a) wholly or partly in Welsh and (b) in English.

David Lammy: The Social Security Commissioners receive applications from the claimant, which are then considered by the Commissioners, and a ruling issued. The Commissioners will either grant or refuse leave to appeal. If leave to appeal is granted the appeal then proceeds to hearing. No cases before the Social Security Commissioners have been heard either wholly or partly in Welsh during the last three years. The Office of the Social Security Commissioners does not hold separate statistical information relating to waiting times for cases in either Wales or England. The average waiting times for an application for leave to appeal, and for appeals granted leave to proceed to hearing, over the last three years, are as follows:
	
		Weeks
		
			 Period Average waiting time for application decision Average waiting time from decision to hearing(28) 
		
		
			 2001–02 16 34 
			 2002–03 10 21 
			 2003–04 8 20 
		
	
	(28) Please note that waiting time figures have been rounded up or down where appropriate.

Social Security Commissioners

Hywel Williams: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what written and other information material is provided (a) in Welsh and (b) bilingually to people taking cases to the Social Security Commissioners.

David Lammy: The Office for the Social Security Commissioners has an internet site which is accessible in Welsh or English which provides a range of information in relation to the procedures of the Commissioners. Work is currently ongoing in translating the Social Security Commissioners appeal form, and an information leaflet, into the Welsh language.

Social Security Commissioners

Hywel Williams: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many cases from Wales were heard in each of the last three years by the Social Security Commissioners; and how many of these were heard partly or wholly through the medium of Welsh.

David Lammy: The Office of the Social Security Commissioners does not hold statistical information relating to the volume of cases received principally from Wales. However, over the last three years there have been 73 cases heard orally in Cardiff for which proceedings were conducted in English.

Social Security Commissioners

Hywel Williams: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what provision is   available for cases before the Social Security Commissioners to be heard either wholly or partly in Welsh in respect of (a) cases heard in Wales and (b) cases from Wales heard in England.

David Lammy: A standard direction applies to cases received from Wales. This states that "A notice that it is intended to use Welsh must (a) identify those parts of the case or hearing in which Welsh will be used and (b) be given to the commissioner as soon as possible and in any event at least 21 days before any oral hearing. If notice is given that Welsh will be used the Commissioner will make any further directions that are necessary or expedient". This direction covers all cases received from Wales irrespective of whether they are heard in Wales or England.

Social Security Commissioners

Hywel Williams: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many cases   from Wales were heard by the Social Security Commissioners in England in each of the last three years.

David Lammy: The Office of the Social Security Commissioners does not hold statistical information relating to the number of cases received from Wales and subsequently heard in England.

British Irish Council

Martin Smyth: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what work is being undertaken by the British Irish Council in the field of languages; what the objectives of this work are; which Government Departments are involved; what contribution non-governmental organisations in the minority languages sector are making to this work; and how the work will contribute to the delivery of the   European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

David Lammy: The work of the British-Irish Council (BIC) in the area of Indigenous, Minority and Lesser-Used Languages is subject to agreement between all member administrations and is led by the Welsh Assembly Government.
	The BIC at its meeting in Cardiff in November 2003, which was attended by the Prime Minister, agreed that Members should:
	Jointly consider outcomes of research into intergenerational language transmission;
	Carry out an assessment of structures supporting indigenous language learning in adult education in each of the BIC administrations;
	Work together to identify priorities for their respective indigenous languages in relation to Information and Communication Technology development;
	Consider together the potential benefits of co-operating on the development of language use surveys;
	Share information on their experiences of the relationship between planning policy and linguistic considerations.
	The language covered by the BIC in its work in this field to date include:
	Cymraeg/the Welsh language
	Gaelic in Scotland
	Gaelg/the Manx language
	An Ghaeilge/the Irish language
	Guernesiais/Guernsey-French
	Jerriais/the Jersey language
	Ulster Scots
	The members of the Council are the British and Irish Governments; the devolved administrations of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales; the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey and the Isle of Man. (Since the suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Northern Ireland interest within the British-Irish Council have been represented by Northern Ireland Office Ministers as part of the UK delegation).
	Each of the BIC member administrations is responsible for determining the nature of the involvement of its own administration.
	The Welsh Assembly Government lead the work in the languages sector and it is open to any member administration to suggest a contribution from a non-governmental organisation. Work in this field will include input from various language boards, adult education providers and community-based language groups such as the Welsh Mentrau Iaith.
	Delivery of the European Charter on Regional and Minority Languages is a matter for each of the Charter's ratified signatories including the UK Government. The work of the BIC in this area will complement current UK initiatives in respect of the Charter.

Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs when the hon. Member for Walsall North will receive a reply to his letter of 11 March ref.147849.

David Lammy: I wrote on 29 April to my hon. Friend, the Member for Walsall North in response to his letter of 11 March. I apologies for the delay.

Immigration

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the costs to the Legal Aid Fund on immigration matters were in each financial year since 1996–97.

David Lammy: In the time available, it is not possible to identify separately the cost of immigration from asylum cases. The costs to the Legal Aid Fund on immigration and asylum matters in England and Wales for each financial year since 1996–97 are as follows:
	
		
			  £ million (net) 1 
		
		
			 1996–97 26.1 
			 1997–98 35.2 
			 1998–99 53.3 
			 1999–2000 61.4 
			 2000–01 81.1 
			 2001–02 129.4 
			 2002–03 176.2 
			 2003–04 (30)204 
		
	
	(29) Approximately 10 per cent. of the total cost of immigration and asylum matters relates to immigration and nationality cases.
	(30) Provisional figure, subject to end-of-year adjustments.

Small Claims

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to the answer of 31 March 2004, Official Report, column 1417W, on small claims, what research projects the Department has conducted.

David Lammy: The Department's Research Unit has commissioned and published two reports by Professor John Baldwin on small claims. They are:
	No. 1/97 Monitoring the rise of the small claims limit: litigants' experiences of different forms of adjudication
	No 8/02 Lav and judicial perspectives on the expansion of the small claims regime
	A report by Professor Joanna Shapland, Angela Sorsby and Jeremy Hibbert: A Civil Justice Audit was published by the Department in 2002. This looked at the value, nature and progress of cases through the County Court in Sheffield and included data on small claims.
	The DCA Research Unit has recently begun a study of a scheme to mediate small claims in Exeter County Court. The DCA's Consumer Strategy Review has also looked at small claims as part of its project on debt.

Welsh Medium Service

Hywel Williams: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the Welsh medium service provided by the Social Security Commissioners.

David Lammy: The Chief Commissioner has asked for the Social Security Commissioners' electronic database to be amended to have the functionality to identify cases received from Wales. There is a Welsh page available on the website available at http://www.osscsc.gov.uk/pages/cymru.htm giving information on the procedures of the Social Security Commissioners. The website is currently undergoing substantial revision. The relevant appeal form, and an information leaflet are being re-developed for the Welsh medium.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Sure Start (Chatham)

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for   Education and Skills what assessment he has made   of the effect of the Sure Start programme in Chatham.

Margaret Hodge: Sure Start Chatham is starting to make a difference to the children and families in the area. The programme has launched a highly successful programme where mothers encourage other mothers to breast-feed; breast-feeding rates are now up by about 20 per cent. And the uptake rate for hearing tests which was about 33 per cent. before the programme began, now stands at 97 per cent.
	Nationally we are undertaking a major and comprehensive evaluation of the Sure Start Programme. Results will become available over the next 12 months. But to give just one example of the impact, we know that in Sure Start local programme areas, there has been a 6 per cent. reduction in percentage of mothers who smoke during pregnancy; and we know that that will make a real difference to the health and well being of a child.

Educational Attainment (East Midlands)

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will rank the local education authorities for the East Midlands by their level of educational attainment.

Charles Clarke: Performance tables for each local education authority are published each year showing the level of educational attainment at Key Stage 2, Key Stage 3, GCSE/GNVQ and A/AS level. I am today placing details of the nine East Midlands authorities in Library.

Civic Awareness

Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to promote civic awareness through educational activities for students aged 14 to 19 years.

Stephen Twigg: The National Curriculum provides citizenship learning for students up to age 16. We have also been investigating the scope for introducing an entitlement to active citizenship in the post-compulsory phase; development work continues. Mike Tomlinson's Working Group sees young people's active contribution to the community within the core of 14–19 learning; The Group's final report is due out in the autumn.

Mathematics Teaching

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he will respond to the proposals made in the report by Professor Smith on post-14 mathematics teaching.

Charles Clarke: As I have said before, I very much welcome Professor Smith's report. It provides a sound framework for determining the way ahead.
	I have already accepted the broad thrust of his recommendations. I am able to report that work is in hand to advertise the appointment of a chief adviser of mathematics and Anita Straker, of the Centre of British Teachers, has been appointed on an interim basis. I   affirm that I am still committed to the idea of a National Centre for Excellence in Mathematics Teaching that is separate from the science centre.
	I am discussing implementation of the report in detail with Professor Smith and others and will announce my decisions on individual elements in due course.

Children of Military Personnel (Schools Funding)

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he will announce additional funding for schools with a large proportion of children of military personnel under the terms of the turbulence factor.

Stephen Twigg: Local education authorities have discretion to make extra funding available to schools with high pupil turnover as a result of armed forces redeployments, and some do so, including Essex. We are aware that schools with a high proportion of service family children among their pupils have a range of concerns about funding and other issues; and a series of regional meetings is taking place in May with a new national body including representative head teachers of such schools, as well as Government officials. We shall be considering the results in due course, with a view to meeting the needs of these schools.

School Selection (Hertfordshire)

Claire Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has received regarding the independent adjudicator's decision on school selection in Hertfordshire.

David Miliband: We have received representations from a small number of parents, either complaining that they disagree with the decision, or that it has taken too long for this issue to be resolved. However, adjudicators are independent of the Secretary of State and their decisions can only be challenged through the courts.

Disruptive Pupils

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what support he will give to schools to enable them to deal with disruptive pupils.

Margaret Hodge: We are the first Government to adopt a comprehensive strategy to improve behaviour in schools. We are providing all secondary schools with high-quality training materials and expert consultancy, developing similar materials for primary schools and focusing intensive support such as multi-agency teams on schools facing the greatest challenges. This is in addition to the learning support units and learning mentors already provided through our Excellence in Cities programme.

Schools (Drinks Dispensers)

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of (a) primary and (b) secondary schools have (i) soft drinks machines and (ii) free water dispensers for pupils.

Stephen Twigg: The information requested is not collected centrally but the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999 require schools to have a wholesome supply of drinking water.

Centres of Vocational Excellence

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the impact of Centres of Vocational Excellence upon standards in further education colleges.

Alan Johnson: Centres of Vocational Excellence are already making a significant contribution to our drive toraise standards in further education colleges, particularly in engaging employers and responding to their needs. 82 per cent. of employers rate CoVE training as excellent or good.
	We expect the contribution of CoVEs to improving standards to increase significantly when we reach our target of 400 and each centre is fully developed. And we are already two-thirds of the way to achieving this target.

Adult Education

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much has been spent in Liverpool on (a) adult literacy and (b) adult numeracy in each year between 1997 and 2003.

Ivan Lewis: The estimated total spend on "Skills For Life" (the Government's strategy for literacy, language and numeracy needs of all post-16 learners from pre-entry level up to and including level 2) and on Key Skills (essential skills of communication, application of number and information technology), from April 2001 to July 2003, in the Greater Manchester Learning and Skills Council (LSC) area is set out in the table.
	
		£000
		
			  Basic skills Key skills 
		
		
			 April 2001 to July 2001(31) 8,925 2,598 
			 August 2001 to July 2002 15,369 3,586 
			 August 2002 to July 2003 27,258 4,210 
		
	
	(31) The figures for April to July 2001 include costs incurred from August 2000 on learning aims continuing into April 2001.
	From the information available to the LSC it has not been feasible to obtain estimates at constituency level orseparate figures by subject without incurring disproportionate cost. Likewise it has not been feasible to obtain comparable figures for periods before April 2001 when the Skills for Life strategy was launched and the LSC was formed, but information shows it was considerably less than at present.

Broadband

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of schools have access to broadband-enabled internet, broken down by those in (a) urban, (b) rural and (c) deprived areas.

Charles Clarke: By the end of March 2004, 60 per cent. of schools had access to broadband connectivity and we are on track to connect all schools by 2006. My Department does not hold information on the percentage of schools in deprived areas with access to broadband, or regularly collect such information for rural schools. The most recent position for which data on rural schools is available is August 2003, at which point 42 per cent. of all schools and 33 per cent. of rural schools were connected to broadband.

Capital Modernisation Fund (Wigan)

Neil Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money was allocated to Wigan from the Capital Modernisation Fund.

Charles Clarke: The Department for Education and Skills does not hold this information centrally. Capital Modernisation Fund is allocated by projects and not by area.

Careers Advisers

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many careers advisers there were in each year since 1997.

Margaret Hodge: My Department does not collect data on the number of careers advisers or the specialist qualifications held by Connexions Personal Advisers. Although Connexions Partnerships report the numbers of Personal Advisers in post, they are not yet required to provide data on those with a careers guidance specialism. This information will be available in the annual survey of all Connexions staff due to take place at the beginning of May.

Child Care (Preston)

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many child care places have been created in Preston since 1997;
	(2)  how many children in Preston have gained from the National Childcare Strategy.

Margaret Hodge: The Department is unable to provide details of child care places for Preston. However, from April 1999 to December 2003 Lancashire local authority created 20,860 new child care places helping some 36,821 children. This shows an increase in the stock of child care places, taking into account turnover, of 9,046 helping some 16,274 children.

Child Guardians

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he expects the President of the Family Law Division to issue her latest practice note regarding the appointment of child guardians in private law proceedings.

Margaret Hodge: The President of the Family Division issued a Practice Direction on 5 April 2004. Copies of this Practice Direction and the CAFCASS Practice Note, which explains it, have been placed in the Library of the House.

Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what the closing date was for applications for new board members for the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service;
	(2)  what criteria his Department used in determining appointments to the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service board;
	(3)  how many people applied for positions on the board of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service;
	(4)  whether applications for the board of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service were considered which had been received after the official closing date.

Margaret Hodge: The published closing date for applications to the new board of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) was 28 January 2004. After 28 January the exercise was extended, to widen the range of skills and experience offered by candidates, and four further applications were considered. A total of 336 applications for the positions were received. The published criteria for new board members were as follows:
	"Successful candidates will have demonstrated skills and experience in one or more of the following:
	Experience of working at a senior level in, or close to, the family justice system or social services for children.
	National level experience of children's charities or responsible organisations representing families and parents or mediation services.
	A background in research relevant to CAFCASS customers and the operation of family law.
	Experience of a top level executive position in a large organisation, public or private sector, delivering high quality services to the public.
	Experience of being a non-executive board member or director in an NDPB, company or charity.
	Senior experience in financial management, not necessarily as a professionally qualified person, with expertise in budgeting, resource management and audit.
	Board expertise in information technology.
	In addition, candidates will demonstrate commitment to customer care and valuing diversity. They will have integrity and be able to work well as a member of a team."

Children's Centres

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children's centres have been set up; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: There are 67 children's centres in England all of which are based in disadvantaged areas. We have now begun to receive children's centres implementation plans from local authorities and are considering these on an individual basis. We will be in a position to announce more centres by the middle of June 2004. Further announcements will be made at regular intervals as we work towards our goal of 1,700 children's centres by March 2008 and our aspiration for one in every community in the longer term.

Computers Within Reach (Wigan)

Neil Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) teachers and (b) families in Wigan have benefited from the Computers within Reach programme.

Charles Clarke: The Computers Within Reach (CWR) scheme closed on 31 October 2001 having delivered over 24,000 recycled computers to people in 22 pilot areas, at a cost of £7.1 million over two years. Those eligible were in receipt of certain working age benefits or a State Pension with minimum income guarantee.
	At the same time as funding was made available for the Computers within Reach scheme, funding was also provided for the Computers for Teachers programme. For teachers who met certain criteria, this programme subsidised the cost of a computer. It was subsequently replaced by the current Laptops for Teachers scheme which dispensed with subsidies, and through which sufficient funding will be provided to enable two thirds of teachers to receive a laptop by March 2006.
	Wigan was not one of the pilot areas for the CWR scheme.

Connexions Service

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of students who have visited a Connexions branch since the launch of the service.

Margaret Hodge: Information on the number of students who have visited Connexions branches since the launch of the service has not been collected centrally.
	A departmental survey in 2003 found that, on average, young people made 40,000 visits to Connexions one-stop-shops and community based access points each week. This equates to over two million visits per year.

East of England Centre for Playwork Education and Training

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what the (a) total set up and (b) latest annual operating costs were for the East of England Centre for Playwork Education and Training; and what the sources of those funds are;
	(2)  what the aims and objectives are for the East of England Centre for Playwork Education and Training; and how many staff are involved in this organisation.

Margaret Hodge: The East of England Centre is one of nine regional centres for Playwork Education and Training operated by the Playwork Unit of Skillsactive, the Sector Skills Council for Active Leisure and Learning. The Government, through the SureStart Unit and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, contributes to the funding of the Playwork Unit. In 2003–04, £50,000 of this contribution went to the East of England Centre and a similar amount will again go to the Centre in 2004–05.
	The aims and objectives of the Playwork Unit and its regional centres are to: raise the level of understanding about the importance of children's play; improve the access to good quality play provision throughout England; and improve children's lives by setting standards of excellence in education, training and qualifications and developing opportunities for playworkers to access education, training and qualifications.
	The total set up costs, annual operating costs and staff   numbers of the East of England Centre are the responsibility of the Playwork Unit of Skillsactive, which is a charitable organisation.

Education (Bootle)

Joe Benton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) free nursery and (b) pre-school places were available for (i) three and (ii) four-year-olds in Bootle in each of the last seven years.

Margaret Hodge: The information is not available in the form requested.
	Figures on the number of free nursery education places taken up by 3 and 4-year-olds in Sefton local education authority area are shown in the table.
	The latest figures on provision for three and four-year-olds in England were published in a Statistical Bulletin "Provision for children under five years of age in England—January 2003" which is available on the Department's website www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/.
	Since the beginning of April 2004, six months ahead of our original target, all three-year-olds in England whose parents want one, are eligible for a free, part-time early education place.
	
		Number of free nursery education places1,2 taken up by 3 and4-year-old children in maintained nursery and primary schools and private, voluntary and independent providers—Sefton local education authority area: 1997–2003
		
			 Position in January each year 3-year-olds 4-year-olds 
		
		
			 1997 2,100 3,200 
			 1998 2,000 3,300 
			 1999 2,100 3,200 
			 2000 2,400 3,100 
			 2001 2,900 3,200 
			 2002 2,700 3.200 
			 2003 2,700 3,000 
		
	
	(32) Part-time equivalent number of free nursery education places taken up by three and four-year-old children.
	(33) A free nursery education place comprises five two and a half hour sessions of early years education per week, for 33 weeks of the year, usually three terms of 11 weeks.

Education (East Worthing and Shoreham)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many new nurseries have been   set up in East Worthing and Shoreham since 1997.

Margaret Hodge: West Sussex local authority is responsible for determining the local need for nurseries in West Sussex and holding information on current provision. West Sussex local authority reported that between April 1999 and December 2003, 37 new nurseries have been established in the constituency of East Worthing and Shoreham. Thirteen of these are offering full daycare and 24 are offering sessional daycare, creating 1,301 additional places. West Sussex Local authority plan to create a Children's Centre in Worthing providing Children's Centre services for around 250 children and their families. The nursery attached to the Worthing Children's Centre (which has benefited from resources from the Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative) is set to open in October 2004 and will deliver 30 new full daycare places.

Education (East Worthing and Shoreham)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) free nursery and (b) pre-school places were available for (i) three-year-olds and (ii) four-year-olds in East Worthing and Shoreham in each of the last seven years.

Margaret Hodge: The information is not available in the form requested.
	Figures on the number of free nursery education places taken up by 3 and 4-year-olds in West Sussex local education authority area are shown in the table.
	The latest figures on provision for 3 and 4-year-olds in England were published in a statistical bulletin "Provision for children under five years of age in England—January 2003' which is available on the Department's website www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/.
	Since the beginning of April 2004, six months ahead of our original target, all three-year-olds in England whose parents want one, will be eligible for a free, part-time early education place.
	
		Number of free nursery education places1,2 taken up by 3 and4-year-old children in maintained nursery and primary schools and private, voluntary and independent providers—West Sussex local education authority area: 1997–2003
		
			 Position in January each year 3-year-olds 4-year-olds 
		
		
			 1997 600 7,600 
			 1998 800 7,900 
			 1999 900 8,400 
			 2000 800 8,700 
			 2001 1,300 8,200 
			 2002 2,600 8,100 
			 2003 4,900 8,400 
		
	
	(34) Part-time equivalent number of free nursery education places taken up by three and four-year-old children.
	(35) A free nursery education place comprises five two and a half hour sessions of early years education per week, for 33 weeks of the year, usually three terms of 11 weeks.

Education (Heywood and Middleton)

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many children have benefited from the National Childcare Strategy; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many child care places have been created in Heywood and Middleton since 1997.

Margaret Hodge: The Department is unable to provide details of childcare places for Heywood and Middleton. However, from April 1999 to December 2003 Manchester local authority created 6,086 new child care places helping some 11,101 children. This shows an increase in the stock of child care places, taking into account turnover, of 3,629 helping some 6,772 children.

Education (Heywood and Middleton)

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding was spent on computers for schools in Heywood and Middleton in each of the last seven years.

Charles Clarke: My department does not collect information on school spend on computers at constituency level. However Heywood and Middleton is in Rochdale LEA and since 1998–99 schools in Rochdale have benefited from the following funding through the Standards Fund Grant for ICT (including match funding from the LEA):
	
		
			  Allocation to Rochdale LEA (£) 
		
		
			 1998–99 442,813 
			 1999–2000 354,000 
			 2000–01 728,370 
			 2001–02 1,076,549 
			 2002–03 1,304,709 
			 2003–04 1,613,999 
			 2004–05 1,826,570

Education (Heywood and Middleton)

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the effects on schools of changes since 1997 in the level ofinvestment in school sports in Heywood and Middleton.

Stephen Twigg: The information is not held in the format requested.
	Within the context of the statutory National Curriculum, where Physical Education (PE) is compulsory for pupils aged 5–16, it is for individual schools to use their budgets as they judge appropriate.
	The Government are investing more than £1 billion in England to transform PE, school sport and club links. The funding will help deliver an ambitious Public Service Agreement target, shared with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, to increase the percentage of 5–16 year olds who spend a minimum of two hours each week on high quality PE and school sport within and beyond the curriculum to 75 per cent. by 2006.
	The Department is providing just over £330,128–00 to support the Siddal Moor School Sport Partnership in the Rochdale LEA area. The partnership includes five secondary schools (including the sports college hub) and 20 primary/special schools and provides enhanced sports opportunities for all young people to ensure that their pupils spend a minimum of two hours a week on high quality PE and School Sport.
	The New Opportunities Fund has provided schools in the Rochdale LEA area with over £2.873 million specifically to enhance PE and school sport facilities.
	Latest research, published by the Departments on 4 March shows that 68 per cent. of pupils in schools that have been in a Partnership for three years, are taking up the two hour entitlement, rising to 90 per cent. at Key Stage 3. Data has been collected from remaining Partnerships and will be published in April.

Education (Heywood and Middleton)

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) free nursery and (b) pre-school places were available for (i) three and (ii) four year olds in Heywood and Middleton in each of the last seven years.

Margaret Hodge: The information is not available in the form requested.
	Figures on the number of free nursery education places taken up by three and four year olds in Rochdale local education authority area are shown in the table.
	The latest figures on provision for three and four year olds in England were published in a Statistical Bulletin Provision for children under five years of age in England-January 2003' which is available on the Department's website www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/.
	Since the beginning of April 2004, six months ahead of our original target, all three year olds in England whose parents want one, are eligible for a free, part-time early education place.
	
		Number of free nursery education places1,2 taken up by 3 and4-year-old children in maintained nursery and primary schools and private, voluntary and independent providers—Rochdale local education authority area—1997–2003
		
			 Position in January each year 3-year-olds 4-year-olds 
		
		
			 1997 1,400 2.800 
			 1998 1.500 2,800 
			 1999 1,400 2,800 
			 2000 2.300 2,700 
			 2001 2,300 2,700 
			 2002 2,500 2,700 
			 2003 2,300 2,700 
		
	
	(36) Part-time equivalent number of free nursery education places taken up by three and four year old children.
	(37) A free nursery education place comprises five, two and a half hour sessions of early years education per week, for thirty-three weeks of the year, usually three terms of eleven weeks.

Education (Match Funding)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what studies he has made of the difficulties further education colleges have faced in deriving sources of funding to match funds from the learning and skills council.

Alan Johnson: We have not commissioned studies into the factors affecting further education college abilities to match funds from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). Colleges are generally required to provide match funding for capital projects.
	Colleges are not required to match funding for learning provision.

Education (Stalybridge and Hyde)

James Purnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many childcare places have been created in Stalybridge and Hyde since 1997;
	(2)  how many children in Stalybridge and Hyde have gained from the National Childcare Strategy.

Margaret Hodge: The Department is unable to provide details of childcare places for Stalybridge and Hyde. However, from April 1999 to December 2003 Manchester Local Authority created 6,086 new child care places helping some 11,101 children. This shows an increase in the stock of child care places, taking into account turnover, of 3,629 helping some 6,772 children.

Education (Stalybridge and Hyde)

James Purnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding has been spent on computers for schools in Stalybridge and Hyde in each of the last seven years.

Charles Clarke: My Department does not collect information on school spend on computers at constituency level. However Stalybridge and Hyde is in Tameside LEA and since 1998–99 schools in Tameside have benefited from the following funding through the Standards Fund grant for ICT (including match funding from the LEA):
	
		Allocation to Tameside LEA
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1998–99 400,000 
			 1999–2000 300,000 
			 2000–01 982,825 
			 2001–02 1,105,494 
			 2002–03 1,562,674 
			 2003–04 1,584,573 
			 2004–05 2,015,558

Education (Stalybridge and Hyde)

James Purnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) free nursery places and (b) pre-school places were available for (i) 3 and (ii) 4-year-olds in Stalybridge and Hyde in each of the last seven years.

Margaret Hodge: The information is not available in the form requested. Figures on the number of free nursery education places taken up by 3 and 4-year-olds in Tameside local education authority area are shown in the table.
	The latest figures on provision for 3 and 4-year-olds in England were published in a Statistical Bulletin 'Provision for children under five years of age in England—January 2003' which is available on the Department's website www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/.
	Since the beginning of April 2004, six months ahead of our original target, all 3-year-olds in England whose parents want one, will be eligible for a free, part-time early education place.
	
		Number of free nursery education places1,2 taken up by 3 and4-year-old children in maintained nursery and primary schools and private, voluntary and independent providers—Tameside local education authority area: 1997–2003
		
			 Position in January each year 3-year-olds 4-year-olds 
		
		
			 1997 1,700 2,900 
			 1998 1,600 2,900 
			 1999 1,600 2,800 
			 2000 2,100 2,700 
			 2001 2,200 2,800 
			 2002 2,200 2,600 
			 2003 2,200 2,600 
		
	
	(38) Part-time equivalent number of free nursery education places taken up by 3 and 4-year-old children.
	(39) A free nursery education place comprises five two and a half hour sessions of early years education per week, for 33 weeks of the year, usually three terms of 11 weeks.

Education (Warrington, South)

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) free nursery and (b) pre-school places were available for (i) 3 and (ii) 4-year-olds in Warrington South in each of the last seven years.

Margaret Hodge: The information is not available in the form requested.
	Figures on the number of free nursery education places taken up by 3 and 4-year-olds in Warrington local education authority area are shown in the table.
	The latest figures on provision for 3 and 4-year-olds in England were published in a Statistical Bulletin 'Provision for children under five years of age in England—January 2003' which is available on the Department's website www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgatewav/.
	Since the beginning of April 2004, six months ahead of our original target, all 3-year- olds in England whose parents want one, are eligible for a free, part-time early education place.
	
		Number of free nursery education places1,2 taken up by 3 and4-year-old children in maintained nursery and primary schools and private, voluntary and independent providers—Warrington local education authority area
		
			 Position in January each year 3-year-olds 4-year-olds 
		
		
			 1997 800 2,300 
			 1998 800 2,500 
			 1999 900 2,300 
			 2000 1,000 2,400 
			 2001 2,000 2,400 
			 2002 2,100 2,300 
			 2003 2,100 2,300 
		
	
	(40) Part-time equivalent number of free nursery education places taken up by 3 and 4-year-old children.
	(41) A free nursery education place comprises five 2½ hour sessions of early years education per week, for 33 weeks of the year, usually three terms of 11 weeks.

Education (Warrington, South)

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding has been spent on (a) computer equipment and (b) computer facilities for schools in Warrington South in each year since 1997.

Charles Clarke: My Department does not collect information on school spend on computers at constituency level. However Warrington South is in Warrington LEA and since 1998–99 schools in Warrington have benefited from the following funding through the Standards Fund grant for ICT (including match funding from the LEA):
	
		Allocation to Warrington LEA
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1998–99 401,364 
			 1999–2000 465,000 
			 2000–01 854,534 
			 2001–02 947,807 
			 2002–03 1,369,561 
			 2003–04 1,402,145 
			 2004–05 1,732,009

Education Funding (Birkenhead)

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money has been allocated to schools in Birkenhead for information and communications technologies since 2001.

Alan Johnson: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer to his question on 19 April 2004 for the funding spent on computers for schools in Birkenhead in each of the last seven years.

Football Clubs (Study Centres)

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many study centres have been built in conjunction with leading football clubs since 1997.

David Miliband: Since 1997, 58 study support centres have been built, or existing premises refurbished, in conjunction with football clubs as part of the Department's Playing for Success initiative. The clubs involved are from the FA Premier, Nationwide and Conference Leagues. The Department's contribution to the costs has been matched by the LEAs and clubs involved.

Headquarters Staff

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made in reducing the number of headquarters staff since the 2004 Budget Statement.

Charles Clarke: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave the right hon. Member for West Dorset (Mr. Letwin) on 19 April 2004, Official Report, column 41W.

Healthy Eating

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much his Department spent to promote healthy eating among children aged under 16 years in each of the last seven years in each local education authority in Greater London.

Stephen Twigg: holding answer 27 April 2004
	The Department does not hold information on the total amount spent on the promotion of healthy eating among pupils aged 16 or the expenditure by each local education authority.
	Over the last five years a total of over £5 million a year has been allocated to local education authorities to promote healthy eating. This includes funding of £2 million per year since 1999 to the National Healthy Schools Standard (NHSS). LEAs are free to supplement these allocations from other budgets supported by un-hypothecated revenue support grant.

Healthy Eating

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of (a) maintained and (b) grammar schools in (i) Greater London and (ii)   each London borough have introduced healthy eating options into school canteens in the past 12 months.

Stephen Twigg: holding answer 27 April 2004
	The Department for Education and Skills does not collect this information.

Higher Education (Specialist Courses)

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many specialist textile and clothing education courses are available in universities and colleges; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of provision of such courses.

Alan Johnson: This Department does not collect data on the number and type of courses available at universities and colleges. However, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) lists available courses by subject. There are around 450 higher education courses associated with textiles including 340   in fashion and 27 in clothing. I have made no assessment of adequacy of provision. As independent organisations, higher education institutions themselves determine what programmes and courses they offer.

Information and Communications Technology

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money has been allocated to schools in Burnley for information and communications technologies since 2001.

Charles Clarke: I refer my hon. friend to my answer to his question on 22 April, for the funding spent on computers for schools in Burnley in each of the last seven years.

Interactive Computer Displays

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate his Department has made of the cost to (a) Government and (b) individual schools of installing interactive computer display whiteboards.

Charles Clarke: A total of £50 million has been announced for the provision of interactive whiteboards to primary and secondary schools. This funding has been split equally between the financial years 2003–04 and 2004–05 and has been allocated to LEAs. All LEAs in England will receive funding and we would expect over 18,000 classrooms to benefit.
	The British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (Becta) have created an interactive whiteboards framework contract which delivers significant savings in price and considerably reduces the time and effort that would be needed to procure them. Details are available at www.whiteboards.becta.org.uk. LEAs and schools are also able make purchases via this contract with funds not associated with the central initiative.

Jobs (Burnley)

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what the (a) change and (b) percentage change was in full-time permanent jobs in Burnley from 1997 to 31 December 2003;
	(2)  how many new jobs have been created in Burnley since 1997.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Peter Pike, dated April 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about full-time jobs and jobs created in Burnley. (167909,167910)
	While statistics of new jobs created are not available explicitly, statistics from surveys enable comparisons to be made of net changes, in numbers of jobs, from year to year.
	The attached table shows the information requested, relating to all jobs and full-time jobs, in Burnley, for 1997 and the latest year available, 2002. No information is available about whether the jobs were permanent.
	
		Number of full-time employees and total number of employees1 in Burnley parliamentary constituency: 1997 and 2002 -- Number, per cent.
		
			  Full-time Total 
		
		
			 Number of employees 
			 1997 25,700 35,000 
			 2002 24,200 35,800 
			 Change from 1997 to 2002 
			 Absolute 1,500 900 
			 Percentage 5.9 2.5 
		
	
	(42) Employee jobs only, not self-employed jobs
	Source:
	1997; Annual Employment Survey, rescaled 2002; Annual Business Inquiry (ABI)

Millennium Volunteers

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the Government's policy is on the recruitment of 16 to 24-year-old millennium volunteers; and how many have been recruited (a) in total and (b) in St. Helens South.

Ivan Lewis: The Department's Spending Review settlement provided funding for the MV programme at national level of £15 million a year for the period to   March 2006. The Millennium Volunteers (MV) programme, which forms part of the Connexions Service portfolio of services for young people, provides volunteering opportunities for young people aged between 16 and 24 to engage with their local communities. To date over 136,000 young people have participated in the programme in England, with nearly 67,000 completing 100 hours or more of volunteering. We do not hold the information on the number of volunteers in St. Helens South.

National Childcare Strategy

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many children in Burnley have been affected by the National Childcare Strategy;
	(2)  how many child care places have been created in Burnley since 1997.

Margaret Hodge: The Department is unable to provide details of child care places for Burnley. However, from April 1999 to December 2003 Lancashire local authority created 20,860 new child care places helping some 36,821 children. This shows an increase in the stock of child care places, taking into account turnover, of 9,046 helping some 16,274 children.

National Childcare Strategy

Joe Benton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children in Bootle have benefited from the National Childcare Strategy.

Margaret Hodge: The Department is unable to provide details of child care places for Bootle. However, from April 1999 to December 2003 Sefton local authority created 3,417 new child care places helping some 6,128 children. This shows an increase in the stock of child care places, taking into account turnover, of 1,859 helping some 3,400 children.

National Childcare Strategy

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many children in East Worthing and Shoreham have benefited from the National Childcare Strategy;
	(2)  how many child care places have been created in East Worthing and Shoreham since 1997.

Margaret Hodge: The Department is unable to provide details of child care places for East Worthing and Shoreham. However, from April 1999 to December 2003 West Sussex local authority created 12,005 new child care places helping some 21,702 children. This shows an increase in the stock of child care places, taking into account turnover, of 7,334 helping some 13,837 children.

New Deal for Schools

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how much funding each school in Burnley has received from the New Deal for Schools;
	(2)  how much public funding money has been spent on repairing schools in Burnley in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: Table A shows the schools in the Burnley constituency that benefited from investment through the New Deal for Schools (NDS) programme, which ran between 1997–98 and 2000–01.
	Since 2001, the majority of capital support has been allocated to schools and local education authorities by formula, and they decide how to invest it in line with their asset management plans. The Department does not, therefore, have complete information about capital investment at constituency level; this should be held at local authority level. Table B sets out the capital support made by the Department to Lancashire local education authority and its schools since 1997–98, in total and by programme (including all allocations through NDS mentioned in table A).
	
		
			 Year/School Project Package Funding (£) 
		
		
			 NS1 1997/98
			 Burnley Rosehill Junior School Schemes submitted by District Liaison Committees LEA wide grant 2,006,000 
			 Burnley Healey Wood Infant School Rewires Project including 18 schools 1,007,100 
			 
			 NDS3 1999/2000   
			 Burnley Lowerhouse Junior School Rewires Project including 18 schools 1,007,100 
			 Burnley Barden Junior School Rewires Project including 18 schools 1,007,100 
			 Burnley Barden Junior School Window Repairs/Replacement Project including 14 schools 516,000 
			 Burnley Wood Top Church of England Infant School Window Repairs/Replacement Project including 14 schools 516,000 
			 Burnley St. Stephen's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Playground Repairs Project including 25 schools 300,000 
			 Burnley Barden High School Boilers/Heating Project including 17 schools 601,900 
			 St. Theodore's Roman Catholic High School, Burnley Rewires Project including 18 schools 1,007,100 
			 
			 NDS4 2000/2001
			 Burnley Ivy Bank High School Planned maintenance work, internal alterations and partial refurbishment of science accommodation — 197,880 
			 Burnley Habergham High School Replacement of temporary classrooms — 102,265 
			 Padiham Primary School Consolidation on infant site to enable amalgamation of KS1 accommodation — 527,976 
			 Burnley Ightenhill Primary School Replacement of HORSA Kitchen and dining facilities — 330,623 
			 Padiham Gawthorpe High School Provision of second indoor sports facility (to supplement existing gym) and re-roofing of main teaching block — 257,965 
			 Ightenhill Nursery School Replacement of Boilers/Heating Systems Project including 36 schools 1,143,110 
			 Burnley Rosehill Junior School Playground Repairs Project including 29 schools 270,090 
			 Burnley Rosehill Junior School Roof Repairs/Replacement Project including 11 schools 548,460 
			 Burnley Rosehill Community Infant School Replacement of Boilers/Heating Systems Project including 36 schools 1,143,110 
			 Burnley Rosehill Community Infant School Roof Repairs/Replacement Project including 11 schools 548,460 
			 Burnley Barden Community Infant School Rewires of electrical systems Project including 17 schools 951,650 
			 Burnley Barden Junior School Replacement of Boilers/Heating Systems Project including 36 schools 1,143,110 
			 Burnley Ightenhill Primary School Replacement Windows Project including 13 schools 566,350 
			 Burnley Ightenhill Primary School Playground Repairs Project including 29 schools 270,090 
			 Todmorden Road Primary School Playground Repairs Project including 29 schools 270,090 
			 Burnley Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School Playground Repairs Project including 29 schools 270,090 
			 Christ The King Roman Catholic Primary School, Burnley Playground Repairs Project including 29 schools 270,090 
			 Padiham Gawthorpe High School Refurbishment of CDT Project including 6 schools 1,502,992 
			 St. Theodore's Roman Catholic High School, Burnley Rewires of electrical systems Project including 17 schools 951,650 
			 St. Theodore's Roman Catholic High School Replacement of Boilers/Heating Systems Project including 36 schools 1,143,110 
			 Burnley Calder View Community Special School Playground Repairs Project including 29 schools 270,090 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. For NDS 1 grant was allocated for Lancashire local education authority (LEA) wide projects, part of which was used for building maintenance work and improved security at each of two schools in the Burnley constituency. The LEA will be able to say how much was allocated to each school.
	2. Where the project includes a package for a number of schools, each school received a share of the funding.
	
		Table B: Capital allocations: Lancashire local education authority -- £000
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Additional NDS Grant (615) — — — — 1,510 — — 
			 Assistance with Asset Management Plans — — 189 — — — — 
			 Voluntary Aided formulaic allocations — — — — 378 2,167 2,813 
			 Basic Need 5,388 5,519 4,766 6,543 2,931 4,597 9,312 
			 Class Size initiative — 1,238 3,711 2,190 347 89 — 
			 Condition — — — — 7,923 12,228 16,043 
			 Devolved Formula — — — 9,115 7,517 11,489 17,518 
			 Energy — 353 — — — — — 
			 Modernisation — — — — — 4,551 8,750 
			 NDS 1 2,006 — — — — — — 
			 NDS 2 — 3,468 — — — — — 
			 NDS 3 — — 7,538 — — — — 
			 NDS 4 — — — 13,376 — — — 
			 Outside Toilets — 275 — — — — — 
			 Private Finance Initiative — — 13,400 — — — — 
			 School Labs — — — 591 591 — — 
			 School Security 373 408 429 429 301 258 — 
			 Schools Access Initiative 75 211 400 620 980 1,634 2,138 
			 Schools Renewal Challenge Fund — — — — — — — 
			 Secondary Learning Support Units — — — 290 314 389 — 
			 Seed Challenge — — — 604 703 1,288 1,282 
			 Specialist Schools — — — 100 100 500 — 
			 Staff Workspace — — — — — 220 526 
			 Supplementary Credit Approvals 2,021 454 1,149 365 454 — — 
			 Supplementary NDS for VA Schools — — — 63 3 — — 
			 Targeted Capital Funding — — — — 2,093 2,689 — 
			 Targeted Capital Funding—VA — — — — — — 4,225 
			 Voluntary Aided School Grant 3,425 5,031 3,597 3,735 3,633 4,371 — 
			 Total 13,288 16,957 35,179 38,021 29,778 46,470 62,607 
		
	
	To date we have allocated £53.8 million capital funding for 2004–05 and 2005–06.

New Deal for Schools

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how much funding each school in Preston has received from the New Deal for Schools;
	(2)  how much public funding money has been spent on repairing schools in Preston in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: Table A shows the schools in the Preston constituency that benefited from investment through the New Deal for Schools (NDS) programme, which ran between 1997–98 and 2000–01.
	Since 2001, the majority of capital support has been allocated to schools and local education authorities by formula, and they decide how to invest it in line with their asset management plans. The Department does not, therefore, have complete information about capital investment at constituency level, this should be held at local authority level.
	Table B sets out the capital support made by the Department to Lancashire local education authority and its schools since 1997–98, in total and by programme (including all allocations through NDS mentioned in table A).
	
		Table A—NDS allocations to schools in the Preston constituency
		
			  School Project Package Funding (£) 
		
		
			 NDS1—1997–1998 Woodlands School Improve science block LEA wide grant 1,170,000 
			  Preston Tutorial Centre Schemes submitted by District Liaison Committees LEA wide grant 2,006,000 
			 NDS3—1999–2000 Brookfield Community Primary School Playground Repairs Project including 25 schools 300,000 
			  Frenchwood Community Primary School Roof Works Project including 13 schools 549,700 
			  Preston Grange Primary School Playground Repairs Project including 25 schools 300,000 
			  Preston Greenlands Community Primary School Window Repairs/Replacement Project including 14 schools 516,000 
			  Ribbleton Avenue Infant School Boilers/Heating Project including 17 schools 601,900 
			  Preston Fishwick Primary School Window Repairs/Replacement Project including 14 schools 516,000 
			  Bamber Bridge St Saviour's Church of England Primary School Playground Repairs Project including 25 schools 300,000 
			  Christ The King Catholic High School, Preston Boilers/Heating Project including 17 schools 601,900 
			 NDS4—2000–2001 Moorfield School Raising Standards  532,119 
			  Walton-le-Dale High School Extension of Design Technology/Science Building and boiler replacement  697,323 
			  Brookfield Community Primary School Replacement Windows Project including 13 schools 566,350 
			  Brookfield Community Primary School Rewires of electrical systems Project including 17 schools 951,650 
			  Deepdale Junior School Playground Repairs Project including 29 schools 270,090 
			  Deepdale Junior School Replacement of Boilers/Heating Systems Project including 36 schools 1,143,110 
			  Frenchwood Community Primary School Replacement Windows Project including 13 schools 566,350 
			  Frenchwood Community Primary School Replacement of Boilers/Heating Systems Project including 36 schools 1,143,110 
			  Frenchwood Community Primary School Playground Repairs Project including 29 schools 270,090 
			  Frenchwood Community Primary School Roof Repairs/Replacement Project including 11 schools 548,460 
			  Holme Slack Community Primary School Replacement Windows Project including 13 schools 566,350 
			  Holme Slack Community Primary School Roof Repairs/Replacement Project including 11 schools 548,460 
			  English Martyrs Catholic Primary Replacement of Boilers/Heating Systems Project including 36 1,143,110 
			  St Mary and St Benedict's Roman Catholic Primary School, Bamber Bridge Replacement of Boilers/Heating Systems Project including 36 schools 1,143,110 
			  Sherburn School Replacement of Boilers/Heating Systems Project including 36 schools 1,143,110 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. For NDS 1 grant was allocated for Lancashire local education authority (LEA) wide projects, part of which was used for building maintainance work and improved security at each of two schools in the Preston constituency. The LEA will be able to say how much was allocated to each school.
	2. Where the project includes a package for a number of schools, each school received a share of the funding.
	
		Table B—Capital allocations: Lancashire local education authority -- £000
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Additional NDS Grant (615) — — — — 1510 — — 
			 Assistance with Asset Management Plans — — 189 — — — — 
			 Voluntary Aided formulaic allocations — — — — 378 2167 2813 
			 Basic Need 5388 5519 4766 6543 2931 4597 9312 
			 Class Size initiative — 1238 3711 2190 347 89 — 
			 Condition — — — — 7923 12228 16043 
			 Devolved Formula — — — 9115 7517 11489 17518 
			 Energy — 353 — — — — — 
			 Modernisation — — — — — 4551 8750 
			 NDS1 2006 — — — — — — 
			 NDS2 — 3468 — — — — — 
			 NDS3 — — 7538 — — — — 
			 NDS 4 — — — 13376 — — — 
			 Outside Toilets — 275 — — — — — 
			 Private Finance Initiative — — 13400 — — — — 
			 School Labs — — — 591 591 — — 
			 School Security 373 408 429 429 301 258 — 
			 Schools Access Initiative 75 211 400 620 980 1634 2138 
			 Schools Renewal Challenge Fund — — — — — — — 
			 Secondary Learning Support Units — — — 290 314 389 — 
			 Seed Challenge — — — 604 703 1288 1282 
			 Specialist Schools — — — 100 100 500 — 
			 staff Workspace — — —  — 220 526 
			 Supplementary Credit Approvals 2021 454 1149 365 454 — — 
			 Supplementary NDS for VA Schools — — — 63 3 — — 
			 Targeted Capital Funding — — — — 2093 2689 — 
			 Targeted Capital Funding—VA — — — — — — 4225 
			 Voluntary Aided School Grant 3425 5031 3597 3735 3633 3633 4371 
			 Total 13288 16957 35179 38021 29778 46470 62607 
		
	
	Note:
	To date we have allocated £53.8 million capital funding for 2004–05 and 2005–06.

Performance Tables

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the merits of adjusting performance tables to take account of schools' performance in a wider range of vocational qualifications; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: We have piloted, with 244 schools, the   reporting of achievements in a wider range of qualifications. That pilot study was published on 1 April, along with a statement of our intentions to include this wider change in this year's secondary school performance tables. Of the 244 schools that participated in the pilot study, 199 achieved a higher capped point score as a result of the inclusion of this wider range of qualifications.

Primary Schools (Administrative Staff)

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many administrative staff were employed in primary schools in (a) England and (b) Wales in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: The following table shows the full-time equivalent number of administrative staff employed in maintained primary schools in England who are helping to free teachers to teach and supporting the efficient running of their schools in each year from 1997 to 2003, the latest information available.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997 19,210 
			 1998 19,560 
			 1999 19,980 
			 2000 21,180 
			 2001 22,260 
			 2002 23,060 
			 2003 23,330 
		
	
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census.
	Information regarding the number of administrative staff employed in Welsh schools is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

Register of Interests

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the requirements are on officials in his Department to declare current interests; and what register of interests is kept for his departmental officials.

Charles Clarke: The Civil Service Management Code sets out the requirement for civil servants to declare a conflict of interest.
	In my Department, individuals are required to declare to management in writing, any personal financial activities or official dealings with individuals or groups who share private or business interests.
	Where a conflict, (or potential conflict), of interest arises, management will decide whether to transfer the   work which gives rise to the conflict, to another person to avoid any potential embarrassment to the Department.

School Closures

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many primary school closures there were in (a) England and (b) Wales in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: The numbers of primary schools in England that closed during the calendar years 1997 to 2003 are as follows:
	
		
			  Number of primary schools closed 
		
		
			 1997 171 
			 1998 174 
			 1999 197 
			 2000 188 
			 2001 227 
			 2002 223 
			 2003 207 
		
	
	Source:
	DfES.
	The figures include schools that closed as a result of the amalgamation or merger of two or more schools; schools that have closed but re-opened as voluntary schools with a religious character; and schools that have closed in local education authorities that have moved from a three-tier to a two-tier system.
	The National Assembly for Wales is responsible for schools in Wales and can supply this information on request.

Schools Funding (Norfolk)

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent representations he has received regarding funding of schools in Norfolk.

David Miliband: We have received few recent representations on the funding of schools in Norfolk.

School Standards (Liverpool and Berkshire)

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools in Liverpool, Walton have (a) been deemed to be failing since 1997   and (b) subsequently achieved satisfactory standards.

David Miliband: Three schools in Liverpool, Walton, have been deemed to be failing since 1997, one primary school, one special school and one secondary school. Two of these schools have subsequently closed. The secondary school was judged by Ofsted in 2003 to have made satisfactory progress since the inspection which removed it from special measures in 2001.

Solvent Abuse

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what research his Department has commissioned into the extent of solvent abuse by children;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of children in care who engage in solvent abuse.

Margaret Hodge: Although there is no centrally collected data on the extent of solvent abuse by looked after children, information on the use of volatile substances among young people aged 11–15 years is collected in an annual national survey of secondary school children commissioned by the Department of Health. Latest information is given in the statistical release "Drug use, smoking and drinking among young people in England in 2003: headline figures" which was published on 31 March 2004. Drug use, smoking and drinking among young   people in England in 2003 http://www. publications.doh.gov.uk/public/sddsurvey2003.pdf.

Special Educational Needs

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils with special educational needs live more than three miles away from the (a) primary school, (b) secondary school and (c) special school that they attend; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Numbers of pupils living more than three miles(43)from the maintained primary, secondary and special schools(44) that they attend, as at January 2003
		
			  Primary Secondary Special 
		
		
			 Number of pupils travelling more than   three miles 155,187 583,446 48,447 
			 Percentage of pupils travelling more   than three miles(45) 3.7 17.8 52.1 
			 Number of pupils with SEN travelling   more than three miles 28,720 72,548 47,966 
			 Percentage of pupils with SEN   travelling more than three miles(46) 3.8 14.3 52.3 
		
	
	(43) Distances calculated are straight line.
	(44) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	Source:
	Pupil Level Annual Schools' Census.

Sports Facilities

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of secondary schools offer their sports facilities for wider community use outside school hours.

Stephen Twigg: holding answer 27 April 2004
	The Department does not collect information on the number of schools that offer their sports facilities to the wider community. But, many LEA's and schools have arrangements with the local community that provide for this and the development of extended schools will encourage and promote this trend.

Sports Facilities

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to increase sports facilities within existing schools.

Stephen Twigg: The Government are investing significant funding to enhance school sports facilities across England. The New Opportunities for PE and Sport Programme is providing £581.25 million in England (£25 million of which has gone towards the Space for Sport and the Arts programme) and schools from all local education authority areas are benefiting. The Space for Sport and the Arts Programme is providing £130 million to support projects at primary schools in 65 target areas. The schools benefiting from these schemes are required to open up and share their new facilities with other schools and their local community. In addition, the Sporting Playgrounds Programme is providing £10 million to enhance primary school playgrounds to increase physical activity and sport in 27 target areas.
	This funding is on top of the Department for Education and Skills capital investment in school buildings and facilities, which has grown from under £700 million in 1996–97 to £3.8 billion in 2003–04, and will rise to £5.1 billion in 2005–06. The bulk of this investment is allocated to schools and local authorities on a formulaic basis, and is available for improving school sports facilities where these are prioritised in local asset management plans.
	From 2005–06, the Government are also introducing Building Schools for the Future, which aims to rebuild and renew all secondary schools, (including their sports facilities) within 10 to 15 years, subject to future spending decisions.

Sure Start

Claire Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he plans to extend the Sure Start scheme to Watford constituency.

Margaret Hodge: There are a range of Sure Start services in Watford, including a children's centre, attached to Westfield School. Holywell is providing Sure Start services for around 590 children and their families. Since 1998, we have guaranteed free early education for all 4-year-olds and this guarantee has been extended to all 3-year-olds from April 2004. In Hertfordshire this represents an additional funding of over £60 million for 2004–05.
	Since 1999, Hertfordshire have also been given over £6.1 million of funding to provide additional child care places and figures received from the authority shows that by March 2003 additional 11,067 childcare places were created.

Teacher Vacancies

Joe Benton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teacher vacancies there were in Bootle on the latest date for which figures are   available; and what steps he is taking to reduce them.

David Miliband: Information on teacher vacancies is not available by constituency as it is collected at local education authority level. In January 2003, the latest information available, there were 10 full-time teacher vacancies in Sefton local education authority.
	Like other areas, since 1997 Sefton has benefited from the initiatives that the Government have put in place to recruit and retain teachers and to increase the number of staff supporting them in schools. Since 1997, the number of full-time equivalent regular teachers in maintained schools in Sefton LEA has risen by 120, from 2,540 to 2,660 in 2003. Over the same period, the number of full-time equivalent school support staff in the area has grown by 540 from 780 to 1,320 in 2003.

Teacher Vacancies

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teacher vacancies there were in each subject in (a) primary, (b) secondary, (c) special and (d) all schools in each year since 1997, broken down by local education authority; and if he will express these figures as percentages of all teachers.

David Miliband: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

Teaching Assistants

Joe Benton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teaching assistants there were in schools in Bootle in (a) each of the last seven years and (b) on the latest date for which figures are available.

David Miliband: The following table gives the numbers of full-time equivalent teaching assistants in maintained schools in Bootle constituency for each year between 1997 and 2003, the latest year for which data are available.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997 130 
			 1998 130 
			 1999 150 
			 2000 160 
			 2001 200 
			 2002 160 
			 2003 220 
		
	
	Source:
	Annual Schools' Census.

Teaching Assistants

Neil Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teaching assistants there were in schools in Wigan (a) in each of the last seven years and (b) on the latest date for which figures are available.

David Miliband: The following table gives the numbers of full-time equivalent teaching assistants in maintained schools in Wigan constituency for each year between 1997 and 2003, the latest year for which data are available.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997 100 
			 1998 110 
			 1999 110 
			 2000 110 
			 2001 160 
			 2002 130 
			 2003 190 
		
	
	Source:
	Annual Schools' Census.

University Students (London)

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students studying at a London university in the last academic year for which figures are available originated from (a) the UK and (b) overseas.

Alan Johnson: The latest available figures are given in the following table.
	
		Enrolments(45) to UK HE institutions in London 2002–03
		
			 Domicile Number 
		
		
			 UK 259,630 
			 EU 21,105 
			 Other Overseas 40,648 
			 Total 321,383 
		
	
	Note:
	(45) Snapshot as at 1 December.
	Source:
	Higher Education Statistics Agency.

Vulnerable Children

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State forEducation and Skills which local authorities are participating in piloting data sharing schemes for vulnerable children; and when each is due to report.

Margaret Hodge: The Government have provided up to £1 million each to 10 Trailblazers, involving 15 local authorities, to test new ways of information sharing and   multi-agency working. They are: Bolton; Camden; Kensington and Chelsea; Knowsley; Lewisham; Sheffield; Gateshead and Newcastle; Leicestershire, Leicester City and Rutland; Telford and Wrekin and Shropshire and west Sussex and east Sussex.
	An evaluation underway by Royal Holloway, University of London is due to report in autumn 2004.
	An interim report, Developing Identification and referral tracking systems: An evaluation of the processes undertaken by trailblazer authorities, was published in March 2004. I will arrange for a copy to be sent to the hon. Member and one has already been placed in the Library of the House.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Antisocial Behaviour

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) anti-social behaviour orders, (b) parenting orders and (c) curfew orders have been issued by Leeds City Council since 12 February 2003.

Hazel Blears: Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs)—The number of ASBOs issued within the Leeds local government authority area, as notified to the Home Office, from 12 February 2003 up to 31 December 2003 (latest available) is 50. The local authority was the main complainant for 47 of these orders. Three orders were issued, following conviction, at the court's discretion.
	Parenting Orders—Youth Justice Board figures indicate that two parenting orders were made by courts in the Leeds Youth Offending Team (YOT) area following conviction of juveniles between January 2003 and December 2003 (latest available figures).
	Curfew Orders—Statistics on court proceedings for 2003 will be published in the Autumn.

Antisocial Behaviour

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders were issued in (a) the first quarter of 2003, (b) the second quarter of 2003, (c) the third quarter of 2003, (d) the fourth quarter of 2003 and (e) the first quarter of 2004.

Hazel Blears: The number of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs), as notified to the Home Office, issued within England and Wales in 2003 is given, by quarter, in the table. Latest available data are up to December 2003.
	
		The number of anti-social behaviour orders, as notified to the Home Office, issued within England and Wales, by court and by quarter -- January to December 2003 (latest available)
		
			  Quarter 
			  First Second Third Fourth Total 
		
		
			 County court on application — — 2 3 5 
			 Magistrates court on application 112 143 150 158 563 
			 On conviction 53 76 112 146 387 
			 Crown court on conviction 4 4 15 42 65 
			 Total 169 223 279 349 1,020

Asylum Seekers/Immigration

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum in the UK have been made from claimants not residing in the United Kingdom in the last year for which figures are available.

Des Browne: There is no provision in the Immigration Rules to seek asylum in the UK from abroad. A person usually has to travel to the UK in order to claim asylum here, although an asylum seeker is not usually "resident" in the UK. Exceptionally, some cases are referred to the Home Office from overseas diplomatic posts. If entry clearance is granted exceptionally, and the applicant subsequently travels to the UK and applies for asylum, the application would be included in the figures in the same way as other applications. Limited information is available on applications that are processed abroad. No overseas applications are recorded as having been lodged since 1992.
	Information on asylum applications made in the UK is published quarterly. The next publication covering the second quarter of 2004 will be available on 25 May 2004 on the Home Office Research Development and   Statistics Directorate website at http://www. homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Asylum Seekers/Immigration

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Government has to provide alternative accommodation for asylum seekers currently detained at Maghaberry Prison.

Des Browne: We have no plans to provide alternative accommodation in Northern Ireland for those immigration detainees who are currently held at HMP Maghaberry.
	However, an individual detainee who initially elected to remain at HMP Maghaberry rather than be transferred to an Immigration Service removal centre in Great Britain may at any time request to be transferred to such a removal centre.

Asylum Seekers/Immigration

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to which countries his Department judges that asylum seekers cannot be returned for (a) human rights and (b) other reasons.

Des Browne: All asylum and human rights claims are considered on their individual merits in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Should a claim be refused and any appeal before the independent Immigration Appellate Authority be unsuccessful, it means that for that individual it is safe to return.
	The only country to which, as a matter of policy, we do not at present generally enforce the return of failed asylum seekers is Zimbabwe. This policy is based not on asylum or human rights reasons but on our view that in the wider context of the Government's position on Zimbabwe, it would be inappropriate forcibly to return failed asylum seekers applicable at this time.
	However, it is open to Zimbabwean failed asylum seekers to return voluntarily. Zimbabweans may apply for the Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programme (VAARP) operated by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) on behalf of the Home Office.

Asylum Seekers/Immigration

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men, (b) women and (c) children have been granted humanitarian protection in the United Kingdom in each month since April 2003.

Des Browne: The table shows initial decisions resulting in grants of humanitarian protection (HP) to asylum seeker principal applicants and dependants by   month from April to December 2003, the latest published figures that are available.
	
		Principal applicants1,2 not recognised as refugees but granted humanitarian protection, excluding dependants, by sex, April to December 2003
		
			  Male Female Total grants of HP Total initial decisions 
		
		
			 April 2003 5 10 15 4,290 
			 May 2003 5 10 15 5,130 
			 June 2003 10 5 15 5,230 
			 July 2003 5 5 15 4,940 
			 August 2003 5 5 15 4,200 
			 September 2003 5 5 15 5,070 
			 October 2003 5 10 20 5,605 
			 November 2003 5 5 15 5,060 
			 December 2003 10 10 15 4,310 
			 Total 65 70 135 43,840 
		
	
	(46) Provisional figures rounded to the nearest five.
	(47) Information is of initial determination decisions, excluding the outcome appeals or other subsequent decisions.
	
		Dependants of principal applicants1,2 not recognised as refugees but granted humanitarian protection, by sex, April to December 2003
		
			  Male Female Total 
		
		
			 April 2003 — * * 
			 May 2003 * — * 
			 June 2003 5 5 10 
			 July 2003 * 5 5 
			 August 2003 — * * 
			 September 2003 — * * 
			 October 2003 5 5 10 
			 November 2003 * 5 5 
			 December 2003 * 5 5 
			 Total 15 25 40 
		
	
	(48) Provisional figures rounded to the nearest five with * = 1 or 2.
	(49) Information is of initial determination decisions, excluding the outcome appeals or other subsequent decisions.
	16 per cent. of these 135 principal applicants and 88 per cent. of the 40 dependants were aged under 18 at time of decision, based on the date of birth information supplied by applicants. 10 of the principal applicants were identified as unaccompanied asylum seeking children, 83 per cent. of these were under 18 at the time of initial decision.
	Cases granted HP are actively reviewed at the end of the HP period, which may subsequently result in refusal and removal.
	Data on non-asylum grants of HP are not available.
	Information on asylum decisions, by sex, is published annually. The next publication covering 2003 will be available at the end of August 2004 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Asylum Seekers/Immigration

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many National Asylum Support Service-supported asylum seekers in the City of Newcastle have had support and accommodation withdrawn on the grounds of the failure of their case, broken down by (a) gender and (b) the number of dependants involved.

Des Browne: Information on numbers of cases who have had support terminated broken down by reason for cessation, by area of the UK, or by gender is   unavailable and could be produced only at a disproportionate cost. A total of 45,185 cases had support terminated in 2002 (the latest year for which data is available) compared with 14,195 in 2001. Support may be terminated for a variety of reasons, including failure of an asylum application or changes in the circumstances of the applicant affecting their eligibility for support.
	As at the end of December 2003 the number of asylum seekers (including dependants) supported in Newcastle in the National Asylum Support Service, (NASS) accommodation was 1,510, and 55 were in receipt of subsistence only support. Figures are rounded to the nearest five and cases which have had their support terminated are excluded from this figure.
	Information on the number of asylum seekers supported by MASS is published quarterly, and information on the number of cases with support ceased is published annually in the annual Home Office Statistical bulletin Asylum Statistics United Kingdom, available on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www. homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Asylum Seekers/Immigration

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases involving asylum seekers and dependants from EU accession countries remain to be determined.

Des Browne: The requested information is unavailable and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records.
	Information on the number of asylum applications awaiting an initial decision is published quarterly on the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html. The next publication will be available from 25 May 2004 and will cover the first quarter of 2004 (January to March).

Asylum Seekers/Immigration

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether asylum seekers from EU accession countries will be required to have an approved work permit under the Special Work Registration scheme before starting work on 1 May; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidance issued to (a) employers and (b) jobcentres.

Des Browne: From 1 May asylum seekers from the eight EU Accession countries (Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) will be able to take up employment in the UK providing they apply to register under the new Worker Registration Scheme. They will not need a work permit. These arrangements apply equally to accession nationals who are already in the UK (including as asylum seekers) and to those who arrive in the UK on or after 1 May.
	Workers who are required to register should apply as soon as they start a new job—not before—and within one month of taking up employment at the latest. Further information about the Worker Registration Scheme is available on the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) website: www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk.
	Guidance issued to employers is also available on the IND website at http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/default.asp?pageid=17 and available in hard copy from the Employer's Helpline on 0845 010 6677.
	An Awareness Pack and guidance material has been prepared by Jobcentre Plus for use by its staff. This will be placed in the Library once the Regulations are laid before the House on 30 April.

Asylum Seekers/Immigration

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the   Home Department in relation to the Oakington Reception Centre, for the second quarter of 2002, how many (a) appeals were received following refusals, (b) appellants remain in custody, (c) appellants are at addresses known to his Department, (d) appeals have been determined and (e) failed appellants have been removed.

Des Browne: holding answer 1 December 2003
	There were 2,160 appeals received for claims decided at the Oakington Reception Centre out of 2,270 refused asylum applications in the second quarter of 2002. Appellants are not routinely detained at Oakington pending their appeal, although some may be in detention at Immigration Service Removal Centres, at Immigration Short Term Holding Facilities, and at prison establishments. Information on the number of appellants in detention and information on the current address of an appellant is not readily available and could only be verified at disproportionate cost. The number of appeals determined on the 2,160 received in the second quarter of 2002 was 1,995. The number of failed applicants who have been removed could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case files.
	Information on Oakington and other asylum statistics is published quarterly. The most recent publication covering the third quarter of 2003 is now available on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www. homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Asylum Seekers/Immigration

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of applications for asylum in England and Wales were accepted in each year since 1997.

Des Browne: The requested information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Asylum applications, initial decisions, and appeals data relate to applications for asylum in the UK are not available at regional level.
	It is estimated that around four in 10 (42 per cent.) of applications for asylum in the UK in 2002 resulted in the granting at initial decision of asylum (10 per cent.) or of exceptional leave to remain (23 per cent.), or in appeals which were allowed by the IAA adjudicators (a further 10 per cent.). This compares with 42 per cent. for   applications made in 2001, and 31 per cent. for applications made in 2000. Comparable information for previous years is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case files.
	The proportion granted asylum or other status either at initial decision or appeal varies over time reflecting the mix of nationalities, the situations in countries of origin, and the merits of each individual case.
	Further detail including information on the basis of the estimation is provided in the annual statistical bulletin Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 2002 (pages 11–12), copies of which are available from the Library of the House and at the RDS website http://www. homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	It is planned that corresponding information for applications made in 2003 will be published in Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 2003 at the end of August 2004.

Asylum Seekers/Immigration

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum cases which went to appeal during each of the last seven years were (a) granted and (b) refused leave to remain in the country; and what the total number of cases which went to appeal was in each year.

Des Browne: Data on the number asylum cases that went onto appeal are given in the following tables. The tables show the outcomes of appeals determined by adjudicators of the Immigration Appellate Authority (IAA), further appeals to the Immigration Appeal Tribunal (IAT) and applications for Judicial Review for the latest seven years for which data are available. IAA Appeal determinations may relate to initial decisions made in previous years; IAT appeal determinations may relate to IAA determinations in earlier years. Outcomes of appeals relate to whether an asylum appeal is allowed, dismissed or withdrawn. Allowed appeals do not necessarily result in grants of leave to remain. Some appeals to the IAT are brought by the Secretary of State.
	A record 81,725 appeals were determined by IAA adjudicators in 2003, a quarter (27 per cent.) higher than in 2002 (64,405). The proportion of appeals dismissed rose to 78 per cent. in 2003 (76 per cent. in 2002), while the proportion of appeals allowed fell to 20 per cent. (22 per cent. in 2002).
	As at 31 December 2003, there were an estimated 12,000 appeals lodged with the Home Office which had not been sent to the Immigration Appellate Authority, compared with 30,000 at the end of December 2002; a proportion of appeals lodged do not result in appeal bundles being sent to the IAA. 
	
		Appeals(50) determined by adjudicators of the Immigration Appellate Authority, excluding dependants, 1997 to 2003 -- Number of principal appellants
		
			  Appeals received by the Home Office(51) Appeals received by the IAA Total determined 3 
		
		
			 1997 20,950 22,385 21,090 
			 1998 14,320 15,440 25,320 
			 1999 6,615 7,775 19,460 
			 2000 46,190 28,935 19,395 
			 2001 74,365 47,905 43,415 
			 2002(54) 51,695 64,125 64,405 
			 2003(54) (55)45,600 70,575 81,725 
		
	
	
		
			  Allowed Dismissed Withdrawn 
			  Total As % of total determined 4 Total As % of total determined 4 Total As % of total determined 4 
		
		
			 1997 1,180 (6) 18,145 (86) 1,720 (8) 
			 1998 2,355 (9) 21,195 (84) 1,770 (7) 
			 1999 5,280 (27) 11,135 (57) 3,050 (16) 
			 2000 3,340 (17) 15,580 (80) 475 (2) 
			 2001 8,155 (19) 34,440 (79) 825 (2) 
			 2002(54) 13,875 (22) 48,845 (76) 1,685 (3) 
			 2003(54) 16,070 (20) 63,810 (78) 1,845 (2) 
		
	
	(50) Figures (other than percentages) rounded to the nearest 5. Numbers might not add up due to rounding.
	(51) Figures for 1997 to 2000 are based on manual counts of data received in Appeals Support Section of the Home Office. Some cases are received elsewhere in the Home Office before being forwarded to ASS and so may be counted in a later month than when they arrived in the Home Office. Figures for 2001+ are based on electronic sources.
	(52) Based on information supplied by the Department for Constitutional Affairs. Determinations do not necessarily relate to appeals received in the same period.
	(53) Percentages based on total determined excluding without foundation appeals referred to Secretary of State for further consideration. Based on data supplied by the Presenting Officers Unit within the Home Office (October 1999-December 2002).
	(54) Provisional figures,
	(55) Estimate. Figures rounded to the nearest hundred, and subject to later revision.
	
		Further appeals to the Tribunal, decisions, and the outcome of Tribunal Hearings, excluding dependants, 1996 to 20021 -- Number of principal appellants
		
			  Applications for leave to appeal to the Tribunal 2 Appeals to the Tribunal Outcome of Tribunal Hearings(58) 
			  Applications Decisions Received Determined Allowed Dismissed Withdrawn Remitted to adjudicators for further consideration 
		
		
			 1996 5,620 5,345 1,010 900 55 285 10 550 
			 1997 (60)8,915 (60)8,130 2,185 (60)1,375 .. .. .. .. 
			 1998 (60)10,910 (60)10,315 1,775 (60)1,090 .. .. .. .. 
			 1999 8,635 9,575 2,135 1,790 .. .. .. .. 
			 2000 6,020 5,490 1,615 2,635 815 1,385 220 215 
			 2001 15,540 13,540 3,860 3,190 475 1,140 150 1,430 
			 2002(59) 25,600 22,825 6,920 5,565 620 2,015 225 2,700 
		
	
	
		Outcome of Tribunal Hearings(58)
		
			   Appellant  Secretary of State 
			  Allowed Dismissed Withdrawn Allowed Dismissed Withdrawn 
		
		
			 1996 .. .. .. .. .. .. 
			 1997 .. .. .. .. .. .. 
			 1998 .. .. .. .. .. .. 
			 1999 .. .. .. .. .. .. 
			 2000 650 1,225 185 170 165 35 
			 2001 315 1,020 125 160 120 25 
			 2002(59) 410 1,880 210 215 130 15 
		
	
	(56) Figures rounded to the nearest 5. Numbers might not add up due to rounding.
	(57) Figures based on data supplied by the Department for Constitutional Affairs. Decisions and determinations do not necessarily correspond to applications and appeals received in any given year.
	(58) Figures supplied by the Presenting Officers Unit. Figures for October-December 1999 are based on data for November-December.
	(59) Provisional figures.
	(60) Revised figures.
	
		Applications for Judicial Review, and outcomes, excluding dependants, 1996 to 2002
		
			  Applications for leave to move for Judicial Review(61) 
			  Applications Decisions (62) of which: granted leave to move Percentage of applicants granted leave to move (63) 
		
		
			 1996 1,225 915 190 (21) 
			 1997 1,350 1,250 320 (26) 
			 1998 1,890 1,220 300 (25) 
			 1999 Q1, Q2, and Q4(66) 1,790 1,125 395 (35) 
			 2000(67) 1,920 2,095 555 (26) 
			 2001(67) 2,210 2,300 290 (13) 
			 2002(68) 3,075 2,980 260 (9) 
		
	
	
		
			  The outcome of judicial review hearings(61) 
			  Allowed(64) Dismissed 5 Withdrawn 
			  Total As % of total determined Total As % of total determined Total As % of total determined 
		
		
			 1996   
			 1997   
			 1998   
			 1999 Q1, Q2, & Q4(66) 135 (57) 25 (11) 75 (32) 
			 2000(67) 365 (48) 300 (40) 95 (12) 
			 2001(67) 260 (68) 60 (16) 60 (16) 
			 2002(68) 25 (30) 60 (67) 5 (3) 
		
	
	(61) Figures based on Administrative Court data. Figures (other than percentages) rounded to the nearest 5 with * = 1 or 2.
	(62) Decisions do not relate to applications in any given period.
	(63) The number of which granted leave to move as a percentage of decisions.
	(64) The decision of the respondent (in this case, the Home Office or the Department for Constitutional Affairs) was quashed. These figures include consent orders where the JR was conceded by the respondent.
	(65) The decision of the respondent was upheld.
	(66) Estimated figures.
	(67) Figures exclude judicial reviews brought in cases relating to asylum support (NASS).
	(68) Provisional figures.
	Statistics on the number of asylum appeals heard by adjudicators of the Immigration Appellate Authority are published quarterly; data covering the Immigration Appeal Tribunal and Judicial Review are published annually. Copies of the most recent publications are available from the Library of the House or on the Home   Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Asylum Seekers/Immigration

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been placed in (a) Huddersfield, (b) Kirklees and (c) Yorkshire and Humber in each year since 1990.

Des Browne: The information is not available in the   precise format requested. The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) assumed responsibility for the support of asylum seekers on 3 April 2000.
	NASS disperses asylum seekers to Government Office Regions and local authority areas. Statistics by parliamentary constituencies became available at the end of December 2003. The table shows the available data for the number of asylum seekers (including dependants) supported by NASS in Yorkshire and Humberside region, which includes Kirklees local authority area and Huddersfield constituency, as at the end of each year since December 2000. Earlier figures are not available.
	Information on the number of asylum seekers supported by NASS is published quarterly. The next publication covering the first quarter of 2004 (January to March) will be available on 25 May on the Home   Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	
		Asylum seekers (including dependants)supported by NASS
		
			 Government Office Region/local December 
			 authority area/parliamentary constituency and type of support 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Yorkshire and Humber 
			 Accommodation 3,550 8,470 10,215 9,920 
			 Subsistence only 90 285 800 855 
			  
			 Kirklees 
			 Accommodation n/a n/a 935 1,095 
			 Subsistence only n/a n/a 45 45 
			  
			 Huddersfield 
			 Accommodation n/a n/a n/a 750 
			 Subsistence only n/a n/a n/a 25 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest five. Figures may not sum due to rounding.
	2. n/a not available

Asylum Seekers/Immigration

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the countries to which the Home Office does not currently return failed asylum seekers.

Des Browne: We seek to remove all failed asylum seekers and illegal immigrants wherever possible. All asylum and human rights claims are considered on their individual merits in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Should a claim be refused and any appeal before the independent Immigration Appellate Authority be unsuccessful, it means that for that individual it is safe to return.
	The only country to which, as a matter of policy, we do not at present generally enforce the return of failed asylum seekers is Zimbabwe. This policy is based not on asylum or human rights reasons but on our view that in the wider context of the Government's position on Zimbabwe, it would be inappropriate forcibly to return failed asylum seekers applicable at this time.
	However, it is open to Zimbabwean failed asylum seekers to return voluntarily. Zimbabweans may apply for the Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programme (VAARP) operated by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) on behalf of the Home Office.

Asylum Seekers/Immigration

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Department is required to record mistaken removals of asylum seekers; and what steps have been taken to develop an appropriate database for this function.

Des Browne: There is no statutory requirement for the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) to keep records of any mistaken removals of asylum seekers from the UK. By mistaken removals, we are referring to the removal of any individuals while there are any unresolved issues pending on a case, outstanding appeals or judicial challenges.
	Following a recommendation made by the Home Affairs Select Committee in April 2003 that measures be put in place to record and publicise such cases, IND is currently looking into the feasibility of setting up a central database to record all mistaken removals. We do not have any present plans to publicise such information but no final decision will be made on this without prior consultation with the Immigration Research and Statistical Service (IRSS).

Asylum Seekers/Immigration

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what medical assessments are conducted on asylum seekers prior to dispersal within the UK, and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what provision is made for continuing HIV treatment for existing HIV patients in the immigrant population following dispersal;
	(3)  what plans he has to assess the system of dispersal for asylum seekers suffering from HIV.

Des Browne: In assessing suitability for dispersal the   National Asylum Support Service (NASS) takes account of all known facts. Some health needs are identified when the application for NASS support is being completed. In addition, those asylum seekers who go through Induction Centres are given the opportunity to have a health assessment. This does not automatically include screening for HIV/AIDS but an asylum seeker who believes he may be at risk may opt to have tests conducted.
	Asylum seekers known to be HIV positive are dispersed to areas where relevant treatment is available. In line with standard practice for all MASS dispersals, MASS informs the relevant Primary Care Trust of the asylum seeker's arrival in their area. MASS outreach staff visit asylum seekers shortly after their arrival to ensure that they have access to all services, including health services. Accommodation providers and voluntary sector "one-stop" services can also assist newly dispersed asylum seekers to access services including registering with a GP. Asylum seekers who have undergone a health assessment prior to dispersal are in possession of hand held medical records which they can pass to their GP.
	These policies and practices are being considered as part of a short external review which is expected to report to Ministers in the Summer.

Asylum Seekers/Immigration

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers were dispersed in the UK for the latest year for which figures are available.

Des Browne: Numbers of asylum seekers placed in the National Asylum Support Service, (NASS) accommodation under the dispersal policy, and numbers who are in receipt of subsistence only support from NASS, are available on a quarterly and annual basis. The total for the United Kingdom as at end December 2003 was 49,760.
	The next publication covering the first quarter of 2004 (January to March) will be available on 25 May on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Asylum Seekers/Immigration

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers are housed in Liverpool, Walton under the dispersal programme.

Des Browne: The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) disperses asylum seekers to Government office regions and local authority areas. The number of asylum seekers (including dependants) supported in NASS accommodation in the constituency of Liverpool, Walton as at the end of December 2003 was 230.
	Information on the number of asylum seekers supported by NASS is published quarterly. The next publication covering the first quarter of 2004 (January to March) will be available on 25 May on the Home   Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Asylum Seekers/Immigration

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time taken to deal with an asylum application is.

Des Browne: The latest published statistics show that the speed of processing asylum applications continues to   improve. 80 per cent. of applications (excluding withdrawals and third country cases 1 ) received in the period April to September 2003 had initial decisions reached and served within two months. 74 per cent. of applications received in 2002–03, and 61 per cent. of applications received in 2001–02, had initial decisions reached and served within two months. This exceeded the Government's targets of 65 per cent. for 2002–03 and 60 per cent. for 2001–02, and we are on track to meet the target of 75 per cent. for 2003–04.
	The average time between application and initial decision was 10 months for initial decisions made in 2003, compared with 20 months for April 1997. This has been calculated using all cases for which data are available, including older cases decided as part of the reduction of the number of outstanding cases, as well as new cases decided as part of normal work in progress. The number of cases awaiting initial decision fell to 24,500 at the end of December 2003, the lowest level for more than a decade (and 41 per cent. lower than a year earlier), and continues to fall.
	Information on the timeliness of initial decisions is published quarterly on the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html
	1  Cases which may be the responsibility of other EU member states under the Dublin Convention.

Asylum Seekers/Immigration

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applications were registered in each year between 1997 and 2003.

Des Browne: The tables show asylum applications received in each year between 1997 and 2003 for the UK and for the EU as a whole. The figures show the rise in the UK and across Europe in the late 1990s followed by the fall in 2003 as a result of a series of measures including those in the National Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. In 2003 applications to the UK fell by 41 per cent. compared with a fall of 10 per cent. for the rest of the EU (excluding Italy).
	
		Applications(69) received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, 1997–2003
		
			  Total applications 
		
		
			 1997 32,500 
			 1998 46,015 
			 1999(70) 71,160 
			 2000(70) 80,315 
			 2001(71) 71,025 
			 2002(72) 84,130 
			 2003(72) 49,370 
		
	
	(69) Figures rounded to the nearest 5
	(70) May exclude some cases lodged at Local Enforcement Offices between January 1999 and March 2000
	(71) Provisional figures
	(72) Revised figure
	
		Applications(73) received for asylum in the United Kingdom and European Union, including dependants, 1997–2003
		
			  Total Applications in UK Total applications in EU 
		
		
			 1997 41,500 255,800 
			 1998 58,500 312,300 
			 1999(74) 91,200 396,700 
			 2000(74) 98,900 401,900 
			 2001(76) 91,600 397,600 
			 2002(77) 103,100 386,100 
			 2003(77) 61,100 (75)308,400 
		
	
	(73) Figures rounded to the nearest 100
	(74) May exclude some cases lodged at Local Enforcement Offices between January 1999 and March 2000
	(75) Excludes Italy data
	(76) Provisional figures
	(77) Revised figure
	Information on asylum applications is published quarterly. The publication covering the first quarter of 2004 (January to March) will be available on 25 May 2004 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Asylum Seekers/Immigration

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been registered with the London Borough of Hillingdon in each of the last five years.

Des Browne: The information is not available in the form requested. The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) assumed responsibility for the support of asylum seekers on 3 April 2000.
	NASS disperses asylum seekers to Government Office regions and local authority areas. The following table shows the available data for the number of asylum seekers (including dependants) supported by NASS in the Hillingdon Local Authority area, as at the end of each quarter since December 2002. Information in respect of the number of persons dispersed to an area during a given year is not available and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.
	Information on the number of asylum seekers supported by NASS is published quarterly. The next publication covering the first quarter of 2004 (January to March) will be available on 25 May on the Home   Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html
	
		
			 As at end: In receipt of subsistence only support Supported in NASS accommodation 
		
		
			 December 2002 625 20 
			 March 2003 585 10 
			 June 2003 595 15 
			 September 2003 530 15 
			 December 2003 490 15 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 5.

Asylum Seekers/Immigration

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of asylum seekers are estimated to have entered the country illegally in each of the last five years.

Des Browne: The number of asylum applications received in each of the last five years for which data are available are given in the table. There is no official estimate of the proportion of these who entered the country illegally.
	
		Applications(78) received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants: 1999 to 2003—Number of principal applicants
		
			  (79)Applications received 
		
		
			 1999 71,160 
			 2000 80,315 
			 2001(81) 71,025 
			 2002(80) 84,130 
			 2003(80) 49,370 
		
	
	(78) Figures rounded to nearest five
	(79) May exclude some cases lodged at local enforcement offices between January 1999 and December 2000
	(80) Provisional figures
	(81) Revised figures
	Official estimates of the size of the illegally resident population in the United Kingdom do not exist. The Government has commissioned research into the methods used in other countries to estimate the size of the illegal population in order to define methods appropriate for the UK.
	The work required is challenging because, by definition, illegal migrants fall outside of official statistics and are therefore difficult to measure. People illegally present in the UK are also motivated to ensure they remain hidden, which is a challenge to conducting research.

Asylum Seekers/Immigration

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in the last   year immigration detainees were held overnight in police cells.

Des Browne: Information on the number of immigration detainees who were held overnight in police cells is not held centrally. However, I can give an assurance that detention in police cells for immigration purposes is kept to the minimum.

Asylum Seekers/Immigration

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people from the EU accession states have (a) been granted and (b) been refused leave to remain in the UK under the European Communities Association Agreement (i) in 2001–02, (ii) in 2002–03 and (iii) to date in 2003–04.

Des Browne: Detailed figures are not available for 2001–02. However, on the basis of internal management information, we estimate that around 8,000 applications were made during this period.
	In 2002–03, we estimate that just under 15,000 ECAA applications were granted, and some 1,400 were refused or fell for other reasons. In 2003–04 (to end February 2004), these figures were around 35,000 and 1,200 respectively.

Asylum Seekers/Immigration

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department has passed to the Immigration Appellate Authority the relevant papers in the case of Mr. S. M., husband of Mrs. S. K. of Aylesbury (decision maker's reference 643686; Gerrys/Fedex case reference 9003389; appeal reference 900863159; UK Visas reference GV100/86120); and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: holding answer 22 April 2004
	This appeal was forwarded to the Immigration Appellate Authority on 13 April 2004.

Bogus Colleges

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department has taken to close down bogus colleges for migration purposes; and how many colleges have been closed down in each year since 1997.

Des Browne: I refer the right hon. Gentleman to a statement made by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 22 April.

Charities Bill

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home   Department when he will publish the Charities Bill.

Fiona Mactaggart: The draft Charities Bill, announced in the Queen's Speech, is expected to be published in mid-May. It will be considered by a joint Committee of both Houses which will be asked to report by 30 September.

Correspondence

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Minister for Citizenship, Immigration and Counter Terrorism expects to reply to the hon. Member for Southend, West's letters of (a) 10 December 2003 and (b) 12 January.

Des Browne: The information is as follows.
	(a) I apologise for the delay in replying to the hon. Member. On 5 April the letter was accepted by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office who will reply shortly.
	(b) My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State (Fiona Mactaggart) wrote to the hon. Member on 23 February.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letter to him from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton dated 8 March with regard to Mohammed Riaz.

David Blunkett: I responded to my right hon. Friend on 26 April 2004.

Crime

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home   Department what the percentage change in (a) overall recorded crime, (b) recorded violent crime, (c) burglaries and (d) vehicle thefts in Burnley has been since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not available centrally.
	Burnley is a Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) area. Data at CDRP level have been published only from 1999–2000 onwards. Detailed statistics at CDRP level are available for 2002–03 on the new Home Office website: http://www.crimestatistics.org.uk

Crime

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the percentage change in (a) overall recorded crime, (b) recorded crime, (c) burglaries and (d) vehicle thefts in Heywood and Middleton has been since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not available centrally.
	Heywood and Middleton comes within the Rochdale Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) area. Data at CDRP level has only been published from 1999–2000 onwards. Detailed statistics at CDRP level are available for 2002–03 on the new Home Office website: http://www.crimestatistics.org.uk

Crime Statistics

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the percentage change in (a) overall recorded crime, (b) recorded violent crime, (c) burglaries and (d) vehicle thefts in Manchester Gorton has been since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not available centrally.
	Gorton comes within the Manchester Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) area. Data at CDRP level has only been published from 1999–2000 onwards. Detailed statistics at CDRP level are available for 2002–03 on the new Home Office website http://www.crimestatistics.org.uk.

Crime Statistics

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many homophobic incidents were recorded in (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04 by each of the (i) police divisions in west Yorkshire and (ii) police forces in England and Wales.

Hazel Blears: Recorded crime figures submitted to the Home Office by police forces do not separately identify crimes motivated by homophobia. This is because homophobic crime is not a distinct offence in law, and is instead included within the figures for other offences according to the nature of the action.

Crime Statistics

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many racially aggravated incidents were recorded in (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04 by each of the (i) police divisions in West Yorkshire and (ii) police forces in England and Wales.

Hazel Blears: The available information relates to racially or religiously aggravated offences by police force area. The latest figures relate to 2002–03 and are given in the table. This information is not published at police force division level.
	Information for 2003–04 is not yet available.
	
		Racially or religiously aggravated offences recorded by the police in 2002–031
		
			 Police force area Number 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 900 
			 Bedfordshire 169 
			 Cambridgeshire 410 
			 Cheshire 376 
			 Cleveland 145 
			 Cumbria 69 
			 Derbyshire 560 
			 Devon and Cornwall 496 
			 Dorset 177 
			 Durham 371 
			 Essex 558 
			 Gloucestershire 210 
			 Greater Manchester 2,353 
			 Hampshire 317 
			 Hertfordshire 343 
			 Humberside 302 
			 Kent 547 
			 Lancashire 860 
			 Leicestershire 809 
			 Lincolnshire 136 
			 London, City of 71 
			 Merseyside 734 
			 Metropolitan Police 9,853 
			 Norfolk 203 
			 Northamptonshire 303 
			 Northumbria 934 
			 North Yorkshire 3,457 
			 Nottinghamshire 635 
			 South Yorkshire 242 
			 Staffordshire 466 
			 Suffolk 246 
			 Surrey 407 
			 Sussex 443 
			 Thames Valley 948 
			 Warwickshire 159 
			 West Mercia 527 
			 West Midlands 2,422 
			 West Yorkshire 707 
			 Wiltshire 232 
			 Dyfed-Powys 96 
			 Gwent 193 
			 North Wales 288 
			 South Wales 737 
			 Total 34,411 
		
	
	(82) Offences of racially or religiously aggravated other wounding, harassment, common assault and criminal damage

Crime Statistics

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes there have been to the levels of recorded crime, broken down by offence, within Weston-super-Mare in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not available centrally.
	Weston-super-Mare comes within the North Somerset Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) area. Data at CDRP level has only been published from 1999–2000 onwards. Detailed statistics at CDRP level are available for 2002–03 on the new Home Office website http://www.crimestatistics.org.uk.

Criminal Justice

Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time from arrest to court was for (a) persistent young offenders and (b) all offenders in the Wrekin in each year from 1997.

Paul Goggins: The information is as follows.
	
		Days
		
			  West Mercia—Persistent Young Offenders arrest to sentence West Mercia Time Interval Survey—charge to first listing National figures—Persistent Young Offenders arrest to sentence 
		
		
			 1997 155 n/a 141 
			 1998 123 n/a 125 
			 1999 109 30 108 
			 2000 96 32 93 
			 2001 79 28 76 
			 2002 63 25 68 
			 2003 57 24 66 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. We cannot provide "arrest to court" data for Persistent Young Offenders—only arrest to sentence.
	2. We cannot provide "arrest to court" for all offenders.
	3. The figures for "charge to first listing" come from the Time Interval Surveys. Comparable data for 1997 and 1998 are not available.
	4. We cannot provide data for the Wrekin, but we can provide data for West Mercia in which this constituency is situated.

Criminal Justice Database

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 17 February, how many matches are contained wholly within the criminal justice section of the database.

Hazel Blears: The National DNA Database is a criminal intelligence database and its use is restricted by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, as amended, to purposes related to the prevention or detection of crime, the investigation of an offence or the conduct of a prosecution. All of the matches referred to in the 17 February answer, either suspect-to-scene or scene-to-scene were made in the course of police investigations.

Detained Families

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the work of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate official appointed to oversee all detained family cases.

Des Browne: Oversight of family cases involving children as part of the family is maintained by theManagement of Detained Cases Unit within Immigration and Nationality Directorate. Their role includes reviewing the appropriateness of detention and ensuring that where detention is maintained that the cases are progressed expeditiously.
	Any cases involving concern are referred at an early stage to the Immigration Service Director designated to oversee these cases. This Director also receives any information about welfare issues from those responsible for managing the Removal Centre Estate.
	In particular, the Director reviews weekly, all cases involving the detention of families with children where detention might reach 28 days, before the period of detention reaches 28 days, together with reports on all cases already subject to ministerial authorisation. The Director decides whether it is appropriate to seek ministerial authority to maintain such detention.

Detained Families

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in the last 12 months asylum seeker families with children have been detained for over 28 days.

Des Browne: Information on the number of occasions that families with children were detained under Immigration Act powers is not available.
	Management information indicates that on 26 January 2004, 35 children were in detention who were detained solely under Immigration Act powers. Three-quarters of those had been in detention for 14 days or less and the remainder had been detained for less than four months. These individuals were all detained as part of families whose detention as a group was considered necessary.
	Detention of all children beyond 28 days is now subject to ministerial authorisation.
	Information on the number of people detained solely under Immigration Act powers as at 27 March 2004 will be published on the Home Office website (www. homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html) on 25 May.

Detention and Removal Centres

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who is responsible for dealing with complaints made by immigration and asylum detainees about incidents occurring while they are under escort or transit outside detention or removal centres.

Des Browne: All allegations of assault are taken very seriously and all complaints are investigated. If a complaint is made about an alleged assault or inappropriate use of force by either the in-country or overseas escorting contractor the Immigration Service contract monitor will refer this allegation to the police. If such a complaint is made in respect of a local escort, for example to hospital, the detainee, or his/her representative, is always advised in the first instance to go to the police.
	In both cases it is a matter for the police whether a criminal investigation follows. If it is decided not to undertake a criminal investigation, and the escort was a local journey the Immigration Service contract monitor at the removal centre will carry out an investigation of the alleged incident. If the complaint was against the in-country or overseas escorting contractor, the internal investigation will be undertaken by the appropriate contract monitor.

DNA/Fingerprint Data

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many DNA samples taken by the police have been destroyed in each of the last five years; and under whose authority in each case.

Hazel Blears: DNA samples are destroyed and the record of the profile derived from them is removed from the National DNA Database under the authorisation of the police force which submitted the DNA sample for analysis.
	Prior to May 2001, DNA samples obtained from persons who were charged or prosecuted and who were subsequently acquitted or against whom charges were dropped had to be destroyed. An amendment to the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 by the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 removed this requirement in respect of England and Wales but not Scotland. Samples may therefore have been destroyed and the profiles removed from the Database for one or more of the following reasons:
	they are duplicate records from the same individual,
	the individual has been acquitted or charges not proceeded with,
	the samples were taken in error, or
	the death of the individual.
	The police also instruct the laboratory which carried out the DNA analysis to destroy all of the residual retained sample. Records of samples destroyed are not held centrally.
	The number of subject profile records removed from the National DNA Database over the past five years was as follows:
	
		
			  Number of records removed 
		
		
			 2003–04 22,976 
			 2002–03 21,229 
			 2001–02 25,830 
			 2000–01 77,336 
			 1999–2000 59,957

DNA/Fingerprint Data

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that the collecting of DNA and fingerprint data from individuals arrested but not charged with an offence does not lead to (a) a disproportionately high number of samples of black and ethnic minority citizens and (b) a disproportionately low sample of other races being kept.

Hazel Blears: With effect from 5 April 2004 the police have the power under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, as amended, to take and retain the fingerprints and a non-intimate sample from all persons arrested for a recordable offence and detained in a police station.
	The police are given guidance in Codes of Practice as to how to exercise their powers and if they act unlawfully there are existing remedies available to anyone who feels he or she has not been treated fairly or in accordance with the law. Revised Codes of Practice giving guidance on these new powers come into force on 1 May and in the meantime the police have been given advice on these powers in the Home Office Circular 20/2004.

DNA/Fingerprint Data

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what statistics and categories of information will be kept in respect of DNA and fingerprint data on individuals who are not charged with an offence at the time the record is taken or subsequently in connection with the reason the police decided to take the sample; whether the information will be kept in a form which enables statistics on the race or ethnic origin of individuals' samples kept to be accounted for; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, as amended, the police have the power to take fingerprints and non-intimate DNA samples, with or without consent, from all persons arrested for a recordable offence and detained in a police station.
	Limited demographic information relating to the person arrested will be kept on the National Automated Fingerprint Identification Service and National DNA Databases and fuller information, analogous to the information relating to charged persons, will be kept on the Police National Computer. This will include the name, date of birth, sex, colour (white/non-white/unknown), and ethnic appearance (white European, dark European, Afro-Caribbean, Asian, Oriental, Arab and unknown). The type of offence (or offences) for which the person was arrested will also be recorded and the circumstances which led to the arrest will be kept locally.

Eaves Housing for Women

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the evaluation of the Eaves Housing for Women project will be (a) begun and (b) completed; what funding was committed to the Eaves Housing project for the years 2002–03 and 2003–04; what funds are committed for 2004–05; what plans he has to extend the project nationality; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The evaluation of the POPPY Scheme, run by Eaves Housing for Women, began when the project started in March 2003 and will conclude in August. We expect to receive the findings in the late summer of 2004, with publication of the report following shortly thereafter. Funding allocated for the project in 2002–03 and 2003–04 was £33,000 and £620,000 respectively, including the costs of publicity and evaluation. Funding for 2004–05 has yet to be finalised but is expected to be at a similar level to 2003–04. Decisions about future provision and funding for victims of trafficking—including extension to other areas—will be based on evidence of need and will be taken in light of the evaluation findings.

Entry Visas

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the   role of the Scottish Executive in determining Government policy on issuing entry visas.

Des Browne: The Scottish Executive has no role in determining Government policy on issuing entry visas as immigration is a reserved matter and dealt with nationally, but we do work closely with the Scottish Executive on visa policy.

EU Enlargement

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he plans to take to ensure control of Britain's frontiers following enlargement of the EU in May.

Des Browne: The Immigration Service is implementing a series of measures at air and seaports to maintain robust border controls post 1 May and to discharge our obligations to ensure that bona fide EU travellers are processed without delay. Measures include: raising awareness of the risks of document abuse by non EU nationals; re-deploying front-line staff when necessary and trialling these arrangements in advance of 1 May.

EU Enlargement

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the likely number of people coming into the UK from countries acceding to the EU in each of the next seven years.

Des Browne: Research conducted by University College London for the Home Office, published in June last year ("The impact of EU enlargement on migration flows", Home Office On-Line Report 25/03), estimates that the numbers of people expected to migrate to the UK from the new member states in the years following enlargement will not be significant. The research corroborates a number of other independent studies, which have been summarised in reports by the European Commission in 2000 and the former Department for Education and Employment in 1999. The estimates for those expected to migrate cover those coming to the UK for at least a year. As my right hon. friend the Home Secretary said, these are independent estimates and not Home Office figures.
	We will monitor the situation and the UK has the right to reintroduce restrictions on workers in the event of an unexpected impact on the standard of living or   level of employment in a particular region or occupation.

Gurkhas

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish the outcome of the review of immigration rules and procedures applicable to dependent members of serving Gurkha soldiers.

Des Browne: There is no review into immigration rules and procedures applicable to dependent members of serving Gurkha soldiers. Officials are currently reviewing immigration policy in respect of Gurkhas serving in the British Army and will be reporting to Ministers shortly.

Harold Shipman

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether authority has been given for Dr. Harold Shipman's body to be disposed of.

Paul Goggins: Yes. This authorisation has been given.

Identity Card

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the public services for which the Draft Identity Cards Bill requires the production of an ID card as a condition of receiving the service.

Des Browne: There is no automatic requirement to produce an ID card for particular services in the draft Bill published by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 26 April. Parliament or the relevant devolved administration would have to approve regulations for each service on a case by case basis. In addition Clause 15(2) prohibits the ID card or a check of the National Identity Register being the mandatory way to access social security benefits or free public services prior to there being a compulsory requirement to register for an ID card.
	Clause 15(5) of the draft Identity Cards Bill defines provision of a public service as:
	(a) the provision of any service to an individual by a public authority;
	(b) the exercise or performance in relation to an individual of any power or duty of a Minister of the Crown, the Treasury or a Northern Ireland department;
	(c) the doing by any other person of anything in relation to an individual which that person is authorised or required to do for purposes connected with the carrying out of any function conferred on him by or under an enactment; or
	(d) treating an individual as having complied with a requirement imposed on him by or under any enactment.

Identity Card

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what purpose the Draft Identity Cards Bill enables an individual's national insurance number to be recorded in the National Identity Register.

Des Browne: Schedule 1 of the draft Identity Cards Bill published by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 26 April (CM 6178) sets out the information which may be recorded in the National Identity Register. Final decisions on what will be recorded in the Register will depend on further feasibility studies and what legislation Parliament finally agrees.
	Recording the National Insurance number on the Register would link the more secure identity established when the ID card is issued with the National Insurance number which is a less securely issued number. This could help prevent abuse by people using other people's National Insurance numbers and be more convenient for employers using an ID card to confirm eligibility to work.

Identity Card

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers he plans to make available to the police in the event that an individual refuses to verify his or her identity following introduction of identity cards.

Des Browne: The draft Identity Cards Bill that my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary published on 26 April makes clear that it will not be a requirement for individuals to carry an identity card or to produce a card to a police officer on demand.
	As set out in "Legislation on Identity Cards: a consultation (CM 6178)" there will be no new power for the police to stop someone and demand to see their card. Existing police powers to require drivers to produce their driving licence (which could be designated as an ID card) on demand or within seven days at a police station will remain. Added to this, if someone has been arrested for a recordable offence, existing powers will allow the police to take reasonable steps to identify them. This   currently includes powers to check biometric information. There are also classes of criminal offences which are non-arrestable and are enforced by sending a summons. In these situations, the police have to be certain of a person's name and address. If a person refuses to identify themselves in these circumstances or the police are not satisfied with the information given, they have a power of arrest after which biometric checks can be made. If it were not possible to identify an arrested person otherwise, for example checking police records, a check could then be made on the person's biometric against the National Identity Register.

Illegal Immigrants

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal immigrants from China could not be deported in each year since 1997 because the Chinese authorities refused to take them; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: Information on the number of Chinese nationals who could not be returned to China due to the Chinese authorities refusing to accept them is not available.
	Deportations are a specific subset of removals alongside persons subject to administrative removal, removal due to illegal entry action or those refused entry at port and subsequently removed. Information on the nationality of those people removed as a result of deportation action is not available.
	Our ability to effect removals to the country of origin is crucial in tackling illegal immigration, and we expect the co-operation of source countries in this regard. The Chinese Government have very strict conditions for re-documenting their citizens and will only accept their return once they have verified their exact identity. This causes problems for many countries that wish to repatriate Chinese illegal immigrants and failed asylum seekers, as those who do not wish to return are careful to conceal their true identity. Chinese officials seconded to the Immigration Service have recently provided assistance in identifying Chinese nationals to enable their return. We are now working on an arrangement to make this assistance permanent.
	We have made it clear to the Chinese Government that we urgently need to find a solution to the problem of re-documenting those who continue to conceal their identity in order to frustrate return, and are working together to find a way forward to enable us to significantly increase returns to China.

Illegal Immigrants

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what measures are in place to stop businesses employing illegal immigrants;
	(2)  what measures are in place to deter employers from employing illegal migrants.

Des Browne: The current principal control on employers to prevent the use of illegal labour is section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996. Section 8 makes it an offence to employ someone over the age of 16 who is subject to immigration control unless that person has current and valid permission to be in the United Kingdom and that permission does not prevent him or her from taking the job in question; or that person comes into a category where such employment is   otherwise allowed. At present, an employer can be fined up to £5,000 per illegal employee on summary conviction for an offence under section 8.
	On 16 March we announced changes, via secondary legislation, to strengthen the security of the document checks employers must carry out on prospective employees under section 8 to establish a statutory defence from prosecution.
	The changes will make it easier for compliant employers to ensure that their work force can work in the UK, and for the Immigration Service to identify and   prosecute the small minority of non-compliant employers who knowingly or negligently employ illegal workers.
	The Government recognises the widespread concern, especially in the wake of the recent Morecambe Bay tragedy, about the use of illegal labour and is also supporting the Private Members Bill introduced by my hon. friend, the member for Renfrewshire West (Jim Sheridan) on the licensing of gangmasters. More generally, we are increasing illegal working enforcement activity.
	Between April and June 2003 the Immigration Service reported carrying out 79 illegal working operations of which 27 were aimed at detecting five or more illegal workers. Between October and November last year the number of reported operations increased by over 75 per cent. on the second quarter to 141, while the operations aimed at detecting five or more illegal workers rose by over 175 per cent. to 75.
	In the four month period from the beginning of November 2003 to the end of February 2004 UKIS reported carrying out 18 enforcement operations at farms and packhouses where labour providers were involved. These operations led to the removal of over a hundred immigration offenders. A further 11 operations involving labour providers are also scheduled or being planned.
	Earlier this month, two major investigations involving the police supported by UKIS resulted in the conviction of gangmasters for very serious criminal offences. In March, six labour providers with the company Ultimate Source were convicted at Kings Lynn Crown Court of various offences in connection with the supply of illegal workers. On 16 March, the labour provider and his son were found guilty of charges including conspiracy to defraud and facilitating the entry of illegal immigrants into the UK. Both have been sentenced to seven years imprisonment.
	Where the Immigration Service encounters illegal workers, it seeks to remove them from the United Kingdom.

Merseyside Police

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions individuals have been excluded from a specific area for up to 24 hours by Merseyside Police and Community Support since the inception of this power.

Hazel Blears: Merseyside police tell me that they have dispersed more than 100 individuals and given them directions excluding them from three specific areas for up to 24 hours since these powers came into force.

NASS

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been allocated to the National Asylum Support Service in each financial year since its inception.

Des Browne: holding answer 29 March 2004
	The National Asylum Support Service was established as a   separate directorate within the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in 2000–01.
	Total Resource Expenditure incurred by the National Asylum Support Service is listed in the table.
	
		£ million
		
			  Administration cost Asylum support cost Total cost 
		
		
			 2000–01 36 747 783 
			 2001–02 36 1,046 1,082 
			 2002–03 54 1,070 1,124

National Offender Management Service

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish an organogram for the structures of the National Probation Directorate, HM Prison Service and the National Offender Management Service; and what its likely effects will be on personnel and staffing.

Paul Goggins: The Government will make available details of the structure and organisation of the National Offender Management Service when this is finalised. It is hoped that the proposed structure will be completed soon and can be discussed with trade unions and other key stakeholders.

Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will commission an independent review of the implementation of section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.

Des Browne: The Government do not consider that an independent review of the working of section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 is necessary or desirable.
	The operation and impact of section 55 has been closely monitored since implementation on 8 January 2003, and initial problems are being resolved. From 17 December 2003, asylum applicants who can give a credible account that their asylum claim was made within three days of arrival would normally be accepted as having applied as soon as reasonably practicable. This has resulted in a greater proportion of applications being granted under section 55.
	These section 55 arrangements provide a balanced but firm policy that discourages economic migration, while continuing to offer refuge to those seeking asylum, and providing support to those who qualify or are vulnerable. The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) will continue to maintain an open dialogue on section 55 with the voluntary sector agencies, local government and other stakeholders.

Naturalisation

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to implement the report of the Advisory Group on Living in the UK about education for naturalisation applicants.

Des Browne: I refer my hon. Friend to the Written Ministerial Statement made by my right hon. and noble friend Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 2 February 2004, Official Report, column WS13, and to the related papers deposited in the Library, which set out the steps we are taking with regard to the recommendations of the report.

Naturalisation

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Treasury about financing the proposals of the Advisory Group on Living in the UK for education of naturalisation applicants.

Des Browne: Negotiations on the Home Office's Spending Review settlement must remain confidential.

Offender Management

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for the   Home Department how the National Offender Management Service will contribute towards a reduction in the use of custody.

Paul Goggins: This will be achieved through more effective management of offenders under the National Offender Management Service as well as better targeting and co-ordination of custodial and community sentences.

Omar Bakri Mohammed

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the immigration status of Omar Bakri Mohammed, with a view to removing his indefinite leave to remain.

Des Browne: holding answer 19 April 2004
	It is not our policy to make public details of a person's immigration status.

Police

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding per head of population has been received in each year since 1997 from (a) Government grant and (b) the police precept by each police force in England and Wales.

Hazel Blears: The information is set out in the tables.
	
		(a) Government grant funding(83) per head of population(84) -- £
		
			 Force 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 94.52 96.85 97.60 101.29 112.31 110.15 117.18 
			 Bedfordshire 95.82 96.93 95.42 99.91 108.29 115.56 118.92 
			 Cambridgeshire 84.24 87.30 89.35 92.80 103.72 100.53 111.62 
			 Cheshire 88.91 91.34 95.57 100.23 106.51 108.84 120.16 
			 Cleveland 122.58 132.06 134.19 140.03 149.03 157.88 166.99 
			 Cumbria 105.43 106.94 108.60 113.77 123.88 125.25 130.76 
			 Derbyshire 88.59 91.52 94.26 95.21 106.24 105.08 112.59 
			 Devon and Cornwall 88.03 94.04 96.17 100.10 109.74 109.35 113.03 
			 Dorset 81.70 85.94 88.70 87.33 94.50 93.57 98.29 
			 Durham 108.52 117.57 123.08 129.27 137.27 138.75 149.73 
			 Dyfed-Powys 89.53 91.34 91.32 96.95 110.74 111.64 115.44 
			 Essex 90.59 88.26 90.52 92.21 98.79 102.63 107.04 
			 Gloucestershire 93.57 94.74 94.35 97.93 107.57 107.25 113.44 
			 Greater Manchester 125.21 129.03 132.87 137.74 153.33 151.72 168.58 
			 Gwent 102.95 106.10 111.61 115.73 126.18 129.40 137.76 
			 Hampshire 87.91 92.20 94.15 97.52 104.68 107.94 118.02 
			 Hertfordshire 90.49 91.73 97.52 94.07 102.02 102.00 107.18 
			 Humberside 108.87 114.29 114.32 120.40 129.41 128.70 139.33 
			 Kent 96.07 99.44 100.23 105.36 115.33 116.75 128.40 
			 Lancashire 104.63 109.53 110.95 118.32 130.73 127.55 135.86 
			 Leicestershire 92.34 93.20 97.15 100.26 110.95 108.92 116.95 
			 Lincolnshire 88.35 84.49 88.14 94.19 97.01 103.72 102.31 
			 Merseyside 150.14 152.59 154.54 160.78 170.52 180.40 194.66 
			 Metropolitan 211.79 212.42 213.96 229.34 246.12 262.69 286.02 
			 Norfolk 91.37 91.84 90.65 95.41 103.19 106.25 115.26 
			 Northamptonshire 87.97 90.37 91.62 96.41 102.33 102.67 112.99 
			 Northumbria 126.11 134.98 138.05 140.95 155.45 153.22 166.88 
			 North Wales 95.01 96.33 98.35 102.77 112.54 119.44 124.00 
			 North Yorkshire 85.44 90.25 89.77 90.97 101.44 98.66 103.84 
			 Nottinghamshire 106.07 108.74 114.03 116.53 120.55 127.25 133.70 
			 South Wales 115.87 117.36 119.86 123.00 132.89 135.82 145.63 
			 South Yorkshire 111.96 115.56 120.09 124.84 131.32 136.86 151.49 
			 Staffordshire 95.05 94.50 94.51 96.45 102.10 104.48 114.45 
			 Suffolk 81.66 84.42 89.14 91.93 102.94 100.07 107.25 
			 Surrey 101.66 89.09 98.45 89.29 87.53 86.54 93.50 
			 Sussex 90.44 93.48 95.87 96.93 103.40 107.94 114.11 
			 Thames Valley 85.97 89.94 90.48 93.06 104.08 104.96 110.48 
			 Warwickshire 86.87 86.31 87.33 96.42 115.96 100.96 110.31 
			 West Mercia 82.23 82.82 86.62 91.42 108.57 97.85 101.55 
			 West Midlands 122.96 129.04 132.80 138.23 146.43 151.75 171.37 
			 West Yorkshire 115.77 119.90 122.66 129.50 136.76 142.66 152.24 
			 Wiltshire 90.79 91.08 91.08 95.26 103.05 102.78 106.37 
		
	
	(83) Government funding includes general grant (Home Office police grant, ODPM/Welsh Assembly Government Revenue Support Grant and National Non-Domestic Rates). It also includes specific grants: Crime Fighting Fund, Rural Policing Fund, Airwave, DNA Expansion Programme, Community Support Officer funding, London and South East Allowances, Free Travel (City of London and MPS only), Basic Command Unit funding, Street Crime Initiative, Special Priority Payments, Counter Terrorism funding (MPS only) and capital grants.
	(84) Source for resident population figures: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, as used in the calculation of the police funding settlements.
	
		(b) Precept1 per head of population(86) -- £
		
			 Force 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 17.47 18.56 20.68 23.12 24.93 28.73 39.52 
			 Bedfordshire 17.41 18.64 20.54 22.46 23.64 26.58 31.84 
			 Cambridgeshire 16.87 15.96 17.27 20.72 22.73 31.63 39.48 
			 Cheshire 17.51 18.68 19.71 21.55 23.04 26.32 31.84 
			 Cleveland 15.37 13.66 17.73 18.68 20.09 27.90 36.11 
			 Cumbria 18.82 23.61 25.61 27.79 30.29 33.87 44.77 
			 Derbyshire 15.76 17.68 20.46 22.24 23.81 29.12 36.46 
			 Devon and Cornwall 17.06 16.73 18.61 20.64 21.76 25.97 36.89 
			 Dorset 24.47 27.35 30.07 32.87 35.98 40.25 48.75 
			 Durham 14.62 13.68 14.26 15.02 16.24 18.75 23.90 
			 Dyfed-Powys 17.33 21.43 26.45 31.18 33.41 36.22 45.88 
			 Essex 19.44 22.55 23.72 25.03 26.26 28.53 34.96 
			 Gloucestershire 18.18 20.54 24.72 28.27 29.89 34.38 51.92 
			 Greater Manchester 15.58 16.32 17.50 18.26 18.97 20.21 28.10 
			 Gwent 15.58 17.41 19.30 24.52 27.75 31.71 40.58 
			 Hampshire 18.23 17.72 19.09 19.60 21.05 26.97 35.31 
			 Hertfordshire 20.48 23.44 25.26 27.16 28.92 32.29 39.96 
			 Humberside 15.11 15.34 16.14 17.95 25.79 28.90 35.28 
			 Kent 18.50 17.47 19.03 20.27 21.92 26.80 35.35 
			 Lancashire 16.03 16.23 17.67 19.31 21.17 23.18 27.95 
			 Leicestershire 15.71 18.47 19.44 20.91 23.38 29.71 33.55 
			 Lincolnshire 21.90 25.18 26.33 28.08 29.70 31.43 34.46 
			 Merseyside 18.94 20.47 22.22 23.53 25.17 28.02 31.03 
			 Metropolitan 24.26 29.38 31.69 34.56 44.59 49.04 61.80 
			 Norfolk 17.10 18.04 21.73 24.42 28.38 34.14 42.23 
			 Northamptonshire 22.40 22.20 24.69 25.99 27.42 35.22 43.99 
			 Northumbria 14.77 13.49 14.21 14.88 16.12 17.02 19.20 
			 North Wales 17.11 20.75 23.96 28.59 30.47 35.78 47.19 
			 North Yorkshire 17.78 17.47 18.99 20.80 22.97 32.58 57.99 
			 Nottinghamshire 14.46 16.32 18.13 19.36 20.97 25.71 33.83 
			 South Wales 15.88 18.17 21.17 26.24 28.02 29.49 35.66 
			 South Yorkshire 14.47 14.79 15.96 16.23 17.37 20.65 27.15 
			 Staffordshire 16.77 22.34 24.36 25.92 29.83 32.08 41.11 
			 Suffolk 17.20 17.63 18.94 20.71 23.18 28.05 38.35 
			 Surrey 19.40 28.94 32.78 34.81 36.09 42.05 60.17 
			 Sussex 19.87 19.69 20.58 21.51 22.83 27.00 38.71 
			 Thames Valley 19.84 19.13 21.31 22.81 24.41 27.81 41.15 
			 Warwickshire 18.39 22.00 25.38 27.71 30.88 37.22 43.60 
			 West Mercia 17.64 18.83 20.79 26.21 28.09 37.48 42.85 
			 West Midlands 15.00 13.87 14.62 15.71 16.49 18.01 21.35 
			 West Yorkshire 15.12 15.09 15.86 17.13 17.90 22.53 26.96 
			 Wiltshire 19.94 22.85 25.11 27.80 30.65 33.79 41.04 
		
	
	(85) Source for precept information: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Welsh Assembly Government.
	(86) Source for resident population figures: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, as used in the calculation of the police funding settlements.

Police

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police cyclists there are per head of population for each police force.

Hazel Blears: The requested information is not available centrally.

Police

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the percentage change in full-time police officers in Burnley has been since 1997.

Hazel Blears: Information on strength at Basic Command Unit (BCU) level is collected annually and reflects the position at the end of March. Information on BCU strength is available only from 2002.
	Burnley is part of the Pennine Basic Command Unit (BCU). Between March 2002 and March 2003 police strength for the Pennine BCU increased by 0.7 per cent. (from 526 to 530). The deployment of officers to BCUs is a matter for the Chief Constable (Paul Stephenson) and within the Pennine BCU deployment of officers is a matter for the Divisional Commander.

Police

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for the   Home Department what the average police-to-population ratio was in (a) England and (b) the Avon and Somerset Police Authority in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is given in the following table:
	
		Police strength per 100,000 population
		
			 31 March Avon and Somerset England 
		
		
			 1997 204.2 242.2 
			 1998 202.8 240.7 
			 1999 202.9 237.8 
			 2000 197.1 233.0 
			 2001 199.4 234.3 
			 2002 204.8 240.2 
			 2003 213.0 254.5

Police

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding per head of population has been received from (a) Government grant and (b) the police precept by each police force in England and Wales in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The information is set out in the tables.
	
		(a) Government Grant Funding(87) per head of population(88) -- £
		
			 Force 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 94.52 96.85 97.60 101.29 112.31 110.15 117.18 
			 Bedfordshire 95.82 96.93 95.42 99.91 108.29 115.56 118.92 
			 Cambridgeshire 84.24 87.30 89.35 92.80 103.72 100.53 111.62 
			 Cheshire 88.91 91.34 95.57 100.23 106.51 108.84 120.16 
			 Cleveland 122.58 132.06 134.19 140.03 149.03 157.88 166.99 
			 Cumbria 105.43 106.94 108.60 113.77 123.88 125.25 130.76 
			 Derbyshire 88.59 91.52 94.26 95.21 106.24 105.08 112.59 
			 Devon and Cornwall 88.03 94.04 96.17 100.10 109.74 109.35 113.03 
			 Dorset 81.70 85.94 88.70 87.33 94.50 93.57 98.29 
			 Durham 108.52 117.57 123.08 129.27 137.27 138.75 149.73 
			 Dyfed-Powys 89.53 91.34 91.32 96.95 110.74 111.64 115.44 
			 Essex 90.59 88.26 90.52 92.21 98.79 102.63 107.04 
			 Gloucestershire 93.57 94.74 94.35 97.93 107.57 107.25 113.44 
			 Greater Manchester 125.21 129.03 132.87 137.74 153.33 151.72 168.58 
			 Gwent 102.95 106.10 111.61 115.73 126.18 129.40 137.76 
			 Hampshire 87.91 92.20 94.15 97.52 104.68 107.94 118.02 
			 Hertfordshire 90.49 91.73 97.52 94.07 102.02 102.00 107.18 
			 Humberside 108.87 114.29 114.32 120.40 129.41 128.70 139.33 
			 Kent 96.07 99.44 100.23 105.36 115.33 116.75 128.40 
			 Lancashire 104.63 109.53 110.95 118.32 130.73 127.55 135.86 
			 Leicestershire 92.34 93.20 97.15 100.26 110.95 108.92 116.95 
			 Lincolnshire 88.35 84.49 88.14 94.19 97.01 103.72 102.31 
			 Merseyside 150.14 152.59 154.54 160.78 170.52 180.40 194.66 
			 Metropolitan 211.79 212.42 213.96 229.34 246.12 262.69 286.02 
			 Norfolk 91.37 91.84 90.65 95.41 103.19 106.25 115.26 
			 Northamptonshire 87.97 90.37 91.62 96.41 102.33 102.67 112.99 
			 Northumbria 126.11 134.98 138.05 140.95 155.45 153.22 166.88 
			 North Wales 95.01 96.33 98.35 102.77 112.54 119.44 124.00 
			 North Yorkshire 85.44 90.25 89.77 90.97 101.44 98.66 103.84 
			 Nottinghamshire 106.07 108.74 114.03 116.53 120.55 127.25 133.70 
			 South Wales 115.87 117.36 119.86 123.00 132.89 135.82 145.63 
			 South Yorkshire 111.96 115.56 120.09 124.84 131.32 136.86 151.49 
			 Staffordshire 95.05 94.50 94.51 96.45 102.10 104.48 114.45 
			 Suffolk 81.66 84.42 89.14 91.93 102.94 100.07 107.25 
			 Surrey 101.66 89.09 98.45 89.29 87.53 86.54 93.50 
			 Sussex 90.44 93.48 95.87 96.93 103.40 107.94 114.11 
			 Thames Valley 85.97 89.94 90.48 93.06 104.08 104.96 110.48 
			 Warwickshire 86.87 86.31 87.33 96.42 115.96 100.96 110.31 
			 West Mercia 82.23 82.82 86:62 91.42 108.57 97.85 101.55 
			 West Midlands 122.96 129.04 132.80 138.23 146.43 151.75 171.37 
			 West Yorkshire 115.77 119.90 122.66 129.50 136.76 142.66 152.24 
			 Wiltshire 90.79 91.08 91.08 95.26 103.05 102.78 106.37 
		
	
	(87) Government funding includes general grant (Home Office police grant, ODPM/Welsh Assembly Government Revenue Support Grant and National Non-Domestic Rates). It also includes specific grants: Crime Fighting Fund, Rural Policing Fund, Airwave, DNA Expansion Programme, Community Support Officer funding, London and South East Allowances, Free Travel (City of London and MPS only), Basic Command Unit funding, Street Crime Initiative, Special Priority Payments, Counter Terrorism funding (MPS only) and capital grants.
	(88) Source for resident population figures: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, as used in the calculation of the police funding settlements.
	
		(b) Precept1 per head of population(90) -- £
		
			 Force 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 17.47 18.56 20.68 23.12 24.93 28.73 39.52 
			 Bedfordshire 17.41 18.64 20.54 22.46 23.64 26.58 31.84 
			 Cambridgeshire 16.87 15.96 17.27 20.72 22.73 31.63 39.48 
			 Cheshire 17.51 18.68 19.71 21.55 23.04 26.32 31.84 
			 Cleveland 15.37 13.66 17.73 18.68 20.09 27.90 36.11 
			 Cumbria 18.82 23.61 25.61 27.79 30.29 33.87 44.77 
			 Derbyshire 15.76 17.68 20.46 22.24 23.81 29.12 36.46 
			 Devon and Cornwall 17.06 16.73 18.61 20.64 21.76 25.97 36.89 
			 Dorset 24.47 27.35 30.07 32.87 35.98 40.25 48.75 
			 Durham 14.62 13.68 14.26 15.02 16.24 18.75 23.90 
			 Dyfed-Powys 17.33 21.43 26.45 31.18 33.41 36.22 45.88 
			 Essex 19.44 22.55 23.72 25.03 26.26 28.53 34.96 
			 Gloucestershire 18.18 20.54 24.72 28.27 29.89 34.38 51.92 
			 Greater Manchester 15.58 16.32 17.50 18.26 18.97 20.21 28.10 
			 Gwent 15.58 17.41 19.30 24.52 27.75 31.71 40.58 
			 Hampshire 18.23 17.72 19.09 19.60 21.05 26.97 35.31 
			 Hertfordshire 20.48 23.44 25.26 27.16 28.92 32.29 39.96 
			 Humberside 15.11 15.34 16.14 17.95 25.79 28.90 35.28 
			 Kent 18.50 17.47 19.03 20.27 21.92 26.80 35.35 
			 Lancashire 16.03 16.23 17.67 19.31 21.17 23.18 27.95 
			 Leicestershire 15.71 18.47 19.44 20.91 23.38 29.71 33.55 
			 Lincolnshire 21.90 25.18 26.33 28.08 29.70 31.43 34.46 
			 Merseyside 18.94 20.47 22.22 23.53 25.17 28.02 31.03 
			 Metropolitan 24.26 29.38 31.69 34.56 44.59 49.04 61.80 
			 Norfolk 17.10 18.04 21.73 24.42 28.38 34.14 42.23 
			 Northamptonshire 22.40 22.20 24.69 25.99 27.42 35.22 43.99 
			 Northumbria 14.77 13.49 14.21 14.88 16.12 17.02 19.20 
			 North Wales 17.11 20.75 23.96 28.59 30.47 35.78 47.19 
			 North Yorkshire 17.78 17.47 18.99 20.80 22.97 32.58 57.99 
			 Nottinghamshire 14.46 16.32 18.13 19.36 20.97 25.71 33.83 
			 South Wales 15.88 18.17 21.17 26.24 28.02 29.49 35.66 
			 South Yorkshire 14.47 14.79 15.96 16.23 17.37 20.65 27.15 
			 Staffordshire 16.77 22.34 24.36 25.92 29.83 32.08 41.11 
			 Suffolk 17.20 17.63 18.94 20.71 23.18 28.05 38.35 
			 Surrey 19.40 28.94 32.78 34.81 36.09 42.05 60.17 
			 Sussex 19.87 19.69 20.58 21.51 22.83 27.00 38.71 
			 Thames Valley 19.84 19.13 21.31 22.81 24.41 27.81 41.15 
			 Warwickshire 18.39 22.00 25.38 27.71 30.88 37.22 43.60 
			 West Mercia 17.64 18.83 20.79 26.21 28.09 37.48 42.85 
			 West Midlands 15.00 13.87 14.62 15.71 16.49 18.01 21.35 
			 West Yorkshire 15.12 15.09 15.86 17.13 17.90 22.53 26.96 
			 Wiltshire 19.94 22.85 25.11 27.80 30.65 33.79 41.04 
		
	
	(89) Source for precept information: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Welsh Assembly Government.
	(90) Source for resident population figures: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, as used in the calculation of the police funding settlements.

Police

James Purnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the percentage change in full-time police officers in Stalybridge and Hyde has been since 1997.

Hazel Blears: Information on strength at Basic Command Unit (BCU) level is collected annually and reflects the position at the end of March. Information on BCU strength is only available from 2002.
	Stalybridge and Hyde is part of the Tameside Metropolitan Borough Basic Command Unit (BCU). Between March 2002 and March 2003 police strength for the Tameside BCU increased by 6.7 per cent. (from 389 to 415). The deployment of officers to BCUs is a matter for the Chief Constable (Michael Todd) and within the Tameside BCU deployment of officers is a matter for the Divisional Commander.

Police

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the percentage change in the number of full-time police officers in Heywood and Middleton has been since 1997.

Hazel Blears: Information on strength at Basic Command Unit (BCU) level is collected annually and reflects the position at the end of March. Information on BCU strength is only available from 2002.
	Heywood & Middleton is part of the Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Basic Command Unit (BCU). Between March 2002 and March 2003 police strength for the Rochdale BCU increased by 4.2 per cent. (from 409 to 426). The deployment of officers to BCUs is a matter for the Chief Constable (Michael Todd) and within the Rochdale BCU deployment of officers is a matter for the Divisional Commander.

Police

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent from central Government funds per capita on policing in (a) the East Riding of Yorkshire, (b) Humberside and (c) the UK for each of the last five years.

Hazel Blears: The Home Office is responsible for the funding of the Police Service in England and Wales. The available information for all forces in England and Wales, including Humberside, is set out in the table. The distribution of resources within a force area is a matter for the Chief Constable and the Police Authority.
	Funding for the Police Service in Scotland and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Scottish Executive and Northern Ireland Office respectively.
	
		Grant funding(91) per head of population(92) -- £
		
			 Force 1990–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 97.60 101.29 112.31 110.15 117.18 
			 Bedfordshire 95.42 99.91 108.29 115.56 118.92 
			 Cambridgeshire 89.35 92.80 103.72 100.53 111.62 
			 Cheshire 95.57 100.23 106.51 108.84 120.16 
			 Cleveland 134.19 140.03 149.03 157.88 166.99 
			 Cumbria 108.60 113.77 123.88 125.25 130.76 
			 Derbyshire 94.26 95.21 106.24 105.08 112.59 
			 Devon and Cornwall 96.17 100.10 109.74 109.35 113.03 
			 Dorset 88.70 87.33 94.50 93.57 98.29 
			 Durham 123.08 129.27 137.27 138.75 149.73 
			 Dyfed-Powys 91.32 96.95 110.74 111.64 115.44 
			 Essex 90.52 92.21 98.79 102.63 107.04 
			 Gloucestershire 94.35 97.93 107.57 107.25 113.44 
			 Greater Manchester 132.87 137.74 153.33 151.72 168.58 
			 Gwent 111.61 115.73 126.18 129.40 137.76 
			 Hampshire 94.15 97.52 104.68 107.94 118.02 
			 Hertfordshire 97.52 94.07 102.02 102.00 107.18 
			 Humberside 114.32 120.40 129.41 128.70 139.33 
			 Kent 100.23 105.36 115.33 116.75 128.40 
			 Lancashire 110.95 118.32 130.73 127.55 135.86 
			 Leicestershire 97.15 100.26 110.95 108.92 116.95 
			 Lincolnshire 88.14 94.19 97.01 103.72 102.31 
			 Merseyside 154.54 160.78 170.52 180.40 194.66 
			 Metropolitan 213.96 229.34 246.12 262.69 286.02 
			 Norfolk 90.65 95.41 103.19 106.25 115.26 
			 Northamptonshire 91.62 96.41 102.33 102.67 112.99 
			 Northumbria 138.05 140.95 155.45 153.22 166.88 
			 North Wales 98.35 102.77 112.54 119.44 124.00 
			 North Yorkshire 89.77 90.97 101.44 98.66 103.84 
			 Nottinghamshire 114.03 116.53 120.55 127.25 133.70 
			 South Wales 119.86 123.00 132.89 135.82 145.63 
			 South Yorkshire 120.09 124.84 131.32 136.86 151.49 
			 Staffordshire 94.51 96.45 102.10 104.48 114.45 
			 Suffolk 89.14 91.93 102.94 100.07 107.25 
			 Surrey 98.45 89.29 87.53 86.54 93.50 
			 Sussex 95.87 96.93 103.40 107.94 114.11 
			 Thames Valley 90.48 93.06 104.08 104.96 110.48 
			 Warwickshire 87.33 96.42 115.96 100.96 110.31 
			 West Mercia 86.62 91.42 108.57 97.85 101.55 
			 West Midlands 132.80 138.23 146.43 151.75 171.37 
			 West Yorkshire 122.66 129.50 136.76 142.66 152.24 
			 Wiltshire 91.08 95.26 103.05 102.78 106.37 
		
	
	(91) Government funding includes general grant (Home Office police grant, ODPM/Welsh Assembly Government Revenue Support Grant and National Non-Domesticate Rates). It also includes specific grants: Crime Fighting Fund, Rural Policing Fund, Airwave, DMA Expansion Programme, Community Support Officer funding, London and South East Allowances, Free Travel (City of London and MPS only), Basic Command Unit funding, Street Crime Initiative, Special Priority Payments, Counter Terrorism funding (MPS only) and capital grants.
	(92) Source for resident population figures: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister as used for police funding settlements.

Prison Drug Treatments

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the   Home Department how many prisons are using (a) naltraxone, (b) methadone and (c) subutex as part of their drug treatment.

Paul Goggins: The Prison Service does not routinely collect the information requested. However, it is estimated that naltrexone, an abstinence-based treatment, is currently available in around 50 establishments for men and one for women. Methadone maintenance is available in the majority of establishments for women but is not yet widely used in men's prisons.
	Subutex (buprenorphine) is included in the treatment protocols developed in conjunction with NHS services at eight establishments for men. Every establishment for women has the capacity to prescribe subutex but few do so at present because methadone is considered to meet most prisoners' needs. Subutex would, however, be made available to any woman already being prescribed it when received into custody.

Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many students were admitted to the UK under the seasonal agricultural workers scheme from (a) Romania and (b) Bulgaria in (i) 2001, (ii) 2002 and (iii) 2003.

Des Browne: The latest available information is for 2001 to 2003, and is given in the table. Participants under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme must be students in full-time education and aged 18 or over.
	
		Passengers given leave to enter the United Kingdom as seasonal agricultural workers, by nationality, 2001 to 2003 -- Number of journeys
		
			  2001 2002 2003 1 
		
		
			 Romania 125 330 545 
			 Bulgaria 1,110 1,730 1,965 
		
	
	(93) Provisional and subject to change.
	Note:
	The figures are rounded to the nearest 5.

Sentence Costs

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the   Home Department what the average cost of administering a (a) community rehabilitation order, (b) community punishment order, (c) community punishment and rehabilitation order, (d) curfew order, (e) drug treatment and testing order and (f) attendance centre order for (i) an adult and (ii) a juvenile was in the latest year for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: The average costs of administering adult community punishment orders in the National Probation Service and the average estimated unit costs of the juvenile orders administered by the Youth Justice Board are as follows:
	
		£
		
			  Adult 1 Juvenile 
		
		
			 Community Rehabilitation Order 3,080 2,218 
			 Community Punishment Order 2,055 2,218 
			 Community Punishment and Rehabilitation Order 3,000 2,218 
			 Curfew Order 1,730 1,739 
			 Drug Treatment and Testing Order (95)4,080 1,916 
			 Attendance Centre Order 196 167 
		
	
	(94) Forecast costs for 2003–04; include local and central overheads and training of Probation Officers
	(95) Corrections' costs only; Health costs approx £3,300.
	The Youth Justice Board have commissioned PA   Consulting to conduct activity sampling work on Youth Offending Teams which should provide further research data on the unit costs of juvenile orders and interventions. The activity analysis report is due to be completed later this year.

Spanish Identity Cards

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Spanish Government on proposals to introduce electronic identity cards in Spain.

Des Browne: Identity card schemes have existed in all EU countries for many years, with the exception of Denmark and Ireland.
	Home Office officials have had detailed discussions with colleagues involved in the operation of identity card schemes in Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany and lessons learned have informed the development of policy where appropriate. Before the outrages in Madrid, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary discussed with the then Spanish Minister of the Interior his plans to upgrade identity cards in Spain. Comprehensive information has been supplied by each of the EU member states on the operation of their card schemes. The results of this work comprise Annex 3 of"Entitlement Cards and Identity Fraud: A Consultation" (CM 5557) published in July 2002.
	Home Office officials will continue to work closely with colleagues in ED member states to share experience on the design and implementation of identity card schemes.

Stowaways

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was levied by the UK authorities in fines on (a) drivers and (b) freight companies found carrying stowaways in goods vehicles in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: When the civil penalty regime was introduced by the 1999 Immigration and Asylum Act, fixed penalties of 2,000 per clandestine entrant were imposed on hauliers for which both companies and their drivers were jointly and severally liable. There were no separate penalties for freight companies and drivers.
	The total amount of the penalties imposed under the old regime during 2001 was 8,888,000. The total amount of penalties imposed during 2002 up until the end of old regime on 7 December 2002 was 3,792,000.
	The regime was amended by the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. This came into effect on 8 December 2002 and introduced flexible penalties that were separately imposed on companies and drivers.
	The total penalties imposed from the start of the new regime on 8 December 2002 up to 31 December 2003 was 1,365,878; of this 809,913 was imposed on freight companies and 555,965 on drivers.
	The reduction in the monetary value of penalties imposed under the new regime is because:
	The effectiveness of the civil penalty regime and improved control via the increasing use of new detection technology for freight searching has provided an incentive to hauliers to improve their security and lead to a marked a reduction in thenumber of incidents where clandestine entrants are discovered; and
	The flexible penalty which takes mitigating factors into account has lead to lower average penalties per clandestine entrant.

Stowaways

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vehicles were checked for stowaways at UK border checkpoints in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: Detailed records are not kept nationally on the number of vehicles checked for clandestines at UK border checkpoints.
	However, locally collated provisional information for 2003 indicates that at Dover and Coquelles the numbers checked by the Immigration Service were:
	
		January 2003 to December 2003
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Dover 138,030 
			 Coquelles 158,130 
		
	
	Additionally, since 31 December 2003 there has been 100 per cent. checking capability through a range of technologies at Calais.

Student Visas

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the scheme of student visas in Scotland will apply to other parts of the United Kingdom.

Des Browne: The Scottish Graduate Scheme, whereby non European Economic Area nationals who have graduated from Scottish Universities can apply to stay in Scotland for two years and look for work, is a pilot for a more regional approach to managed migration. The scheme, which is planned for introduction from Summer 2005, could be extended to other parts of the UK in due course, if it proves successful.

Student Visas

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ensure that those issued with student visas through the scheme announced by the Scottish Executive remain in Scotland.

Des Browne: Only overseas graduates from Scottish Universities will be able to apply for extended leave to remain under the proposed scheme. Such graduates will already have a four year history of residence in Scotland and strong ties to the local community. In addition, the Scottish Executive will be in regular contact with those participating in this scheme through its new Relocation Advisory Service.

Study Visas

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people (a) in total, (b) from Africa and (c) from each country in Africa are in possession of a visa to study in the UK.

Des Browne: The information requested is not available.
	The tables show the available statistics for students given leave to enter the United Kingdom or granted an extension of leave to remain, 1998 to 2002. These will include students who have subsequently left the country.
	Data on passengers given leave to enter the United Kingdom and persons granted an extension of leave to remain in previous years are published in the Command Papers Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom obtainable from the House Library, the Stationery Office and via the Home Office website http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/hobpubs1.html.
	
		Table 1: Passengers given leave to enter the United Kingdom as students(96), excluding EEA nationals, 1998 to 2002United Kingdom -- Number of journeys
		
			 Geographical region and nationality 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Africa(97)  
			 Algeria 530 410 520 930 670 
			 Angola 250 250 190 270 355 
			 Congo (Dem. Rep.)(98) 50 50 40 30 20 
			 Egypt 1,190 1,050 1,100 1,210 920 
			 Ethiopia 190 190 180 240 155 
			 Ghana 970 1,320 1,800 2,460 2,890 
			 Kenya 1,580 1,590 1,670 1,920 1,980 
			 Libya 1,080 1,140 1,730 2,670 3,130 
			 Mauritius 690 820 950 1,180 1,210 
			 Morocco 650 700 660 530 535 
			 Nigeria 1,660 2,070 2,430 3,220 4,320 
			 Sierra Leone 100 130 190 280 355 
			 Somalia 20 40 30 95 40 
			 South Africa 860 1,050 1,180 1,300 1,380 
			 Sudan 330 320 390 310 455 
			 Tanzania 1,070 940 950 910 905 
			 Tunisia 610 970 840 980 910 
			 Uganda 580 670 800 990 1,290 
			 Zambia 500 560 580 700 680 
			 Zimbabwe 690 770 1,070 1,700 1,780 
			 Other Africa 2,790 2,880 3,000 3,250 3,640 
			 Africa 16,400 17,900 20,300 25,200 27,600 
			   
			 All nationalities(97) (excluding EEA) 266,000 272,000 313,000 339,000 369,000 
		
	
	(96) The data are of the number of journeys made; a person who makes more than one journey is counted on each occasion if given fresh leave
	(97) Includes visa and non-visa nationals.
	(98) The Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly known as Zaire.
	Note:
	Data rounded to three significant digits.
	
		Table 2: Grants of extensions of leave to remain in the United Kingdom as students1,2, excluding EEA nationals, 1998 to 2002United Kingdom -- Number of decisions
		
			 Geographical region and nationality 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Africa(101)  
			 Algeria 130 120 140 250 245 
			 Angola 70 90 100 80 155 
			 Congo (Dem. Rep.)(102) 20 20 20 30 30 
			 Egypt 120 150 270 265 295 
			 Ethiopia 50 60 60 50 80 
			 Ghana 680 950 1,420 1,965 3,130 
			 Kenya 950 1,030 1,080 1,010 1,315 
			 Libya 720 340 690 855 1,260 
			 Mauritius 740 780 860 890 1,280 
			 Morocco 100 90 120 150 150 
			 Nigeria 1,680 1,780 2,080 2,170 2,840 
			 Sierra Leone 270 240 260 210 275 
			 Somalia (103) (103) 10 10 5 
			 South Africa 340 590 1,250 1,715 2,250 
			 Sudan 150 170 170 165 200 
			 Tanzania 570 780 920 815 1,170 
			 Tunisia 20 30 30 30 40 
			 Uganda 280 380 570 680 930 
			 Zambia 520 670 830 695 640 
			 Zimbabwe 1,350 3,320 5,070 5,810 9,075 
			 Other Africa 1,270 1,570 2,010 2,200 3,135 
			 Africa 10,050 13,150 17,970 20,045 28,495 
			   
			 All nationalities(101) (excluding EEA) 45,100 51,190 70,620 83,180 121,655 
		
	
	(99) The data are of the number of decisions; includes extensions granted to persons admitted or previously granted an extension of leave to remain
	(100) Excludes dependants of principal applicants and the outcome of appeals.
	(101) Includes visa and non-visa nationals.
	(102) The Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly known as Zaire.
	(103) One or two.
	Note:
	Data rounded to the nearest five.

Sutton Inquiry

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the terms of reference of the inquiry by Ken Sutton into the operation of theEuropean Communities Association Agreements scheme.

Des Browne: I refer the right hon. Gentleman to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary's statement of 30 March.

US Visitor Deportations

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many US visitors have been deported from the UK for incorrect information on their visa applications in the last 12 months.

Des Browne: US nationals who are coming to the UK as visitors/tourists do not require a visa.
	In 2002 (the latest period for which data are available) 1,030 US nationals who had been refused leave to enter the UK were removed from the country.
	Deportations are a specific subset of removals alongside persons subject to administrative removal, removal due to illegal entry action or those refused entry at port and subsequently removed. Information on the nationality of those people removed as a result of deportation action is not available.

Work Permits

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what checks are undertaken by Work Permits (UK) to ensure that people whose work permits have expired leave the country.

Des Browne: Work Permits (UK) conducts post-issue checks, including visits to employers' premises in order to ensure that work permit holders are employed for the purpose for which the permit was issues on an intelligence led basis. Where it comes to light that a work permit holder has worked or stayed beyond the expiry of their work permit it is able to take enforcement action, including removal. Work Permits (UK) also operates an Intelligence Team who are responsible for investigating alleged work permit offences alongside enforcement officers in the Immigration Service and the National Crime Squad.

Wheel Clamping

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what plans he has to regulate the (a) status, (b) prevalence and (c) activities of private security firms which wheel clamp licensed road vehicles on (i) public and (ii) private land;
	(2)  what timetable he has set to bring forward regulations in respect of private companies which wheel clamp licensed vehicles for enforcement purposes under the provisions of the Private Security Industry Act 2001.

Hazel Blears: On current plans the Security Industry Authority (SIA) propose to commence the licensing of wheel clampers at the end of 2004. Details of the licensing criteria are currently being finalised and are likely to include an identity check, a criminal records check for relevant previous convictions, and a check on the applicant's professional competence to do the job.
	The Private Security Industry Act 2001 also provides for the establishment of an approved contractor scheme by the SIA. The timetable for the introduction of the scheme is under consideration by the Authority.
	The 2001 Act does not regulate wheel-clamping on public roads. Under the provisions of the Road Traffic Act 1991, local authorities may clamp vehicles that infringe parking regulations on public roads or in local authority off-street car parks. Only a parking attendant, as defined in section 63A of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, may authorise such vehicle clamping, although a private contractor may be used to place the clamp on the vehicle. Under sections 71 and 72 of the   1991 Act the owner of a vehicle may make representations to the relevant local authority and subsequently appeal to an independent parking adjudicator about the clamping of the vehicle.

Yarl's Wood Detention Centre

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to publish the report by Stephen Shaw into the allegations made by the Daily Mirror in relation to the Yarl's Wood Detention Centre; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The report will be published on 30 April.

Yarl's Wood Detention Centre

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he received from Mr. Stephen Shaw his report into the fire at Yarl;s Wood Detention Centre in February 2002; when he intends to publish this report; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, Mr. Stephen Shaw, is continuing his inquiry into the fire that occurred at Yarl's Wood Removal Centre in February 2002. It is expected that Mr. Shaw will submit his report this summer.

Yvonne Shitto

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what stage the work visa application number S1145670 in the name of Yvonne Shitto is at; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The work visa application for Yvonne Shitto, reference number: S1145670, was refused on the 8 April 2004.